By Ashok Sajjanhar
India was one of the first countries after the dastardly attacks by Hamas terrorists on Israeli territory on 7 October to unreservedly condemn the terrorist attacks and express solidarity with Israel. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: ‘’Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.” There was no mention in this message about India’s long-held position of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
A few days later on 10 October, 2023, Prime Minister Modi took to X again to recount his conversation with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu: ‘’I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.’’ In a read out on the conversation, the Ministry of External Affairs stated that ‘’Prime Minister expressed deep condolences and sympathy for those killed and wounded as a result of the terrorist attacks in Israel and conveyed that people of India stand in solidarity with Israel in this difficult hour…PM highlighted the issue of safety and security of Indian citizens in Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu assured of full cooperation and support.’’
Some commentators have termed these statements as being partisan and one-sided and claimed that they have done considerable damage to the goodwill that India enjoys in the Arab and Muslim world. Some of these analysts have stated that strengthening and deepening relations between India and the Arab world has been one of the most significant achievements of the Modi government over the last nine years. India’s ties with most of the major countries of the Arab world viz. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Bahrain Oman and others have witnessed remarkable growth since Modi came to power in 2014. They suggest that India’s pronouncements on the continuing Israel-Hamas conflict have the potential to register a big setback to the growth of these ties and also put the welfare of the large Indian diaspora in these countries at physical risk. They say that it could also result in a backlash to the presence of the large numbers of Indian professionals and white/blue collar workers in the region.
