CPM wants Delhi to boycott Israel, its Palestinian guests say we want no such thing

with Ministry of Information, Palestinian National Authority, on the CPM demand to review ties with Tel Aviv.

‘‘The Palestinians are completely respectful of the policy within India, within political parties in India, within the Government of India, of what is in the interest of India.

We are not expressing any opinion on that,’’ he said.

Asked what the Palestinians thought of India’s decision to forge military ties with Israel, Soboh said: ‘‘You can see what you want.’’

He said Palestinains were aware that countries were entitled to have relations with each other, including with Israel.

‘‘We are not asking our friends to cut relations with Israel. What is important for us is the full support of India towards peace, towards the legality, towards the international resolution of the Palestine dispute.’’

‘‘We are asking our friends to use this relation to persuade, encourage Israel to go for peace, return to the negotiating table and not to impose a military solution. I’m sure that the Indian government is using its relations with Israel in this direction,’’ he said.

‘‘The support Israel enjoys in military actions is mainly from United States. We don’t believe that any kind of relations between Israel and other countries are being used against us.’’

‘‘Any kind of relations between India and Israel is part of the internal issue of India. As friends, we are talking and communicating with each other to use all of India’s relations in the Middle East towards the peace process, towards the end of the occupation, towards the peaceful settlement of all conflict. I’m sure the Indian government is totally in favour of this position,’’ Soboh said.