NEW YORK: Expressing concern at the potential for renewed violence in East Jerusalem, India on Thursday reaffirmed its strong commitment to the establishment of an independent, viable, and democratic state of Palestine.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (West) Vikas Swarup, while addressing a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) session, underscored the importance of immediate resumption of the Middle East peace process and direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine. “India supports all diplomatic efforts including by the Quartet, which is aimed at strengthening the collective commitment of the international community to resume these negotiations and facilitate the peace process,” he said.
“After a period of brief calm, tensions are rising again in Gaza. The launch of incendiary balloons from Gaza targeting civilians in Israel and the retaliatory strikes into Gaza threatens to restart the cycle of violence, which caused immense suffering and resulted in deaths recently,” added Swarup.
He also urged all parties to honour the ceasefire arrangement to ensure that the situation does not spiral out of control.
“We are concerned at the potential for renewed violence in East Jerusalem and other parts of West Bank over the legal process that could lead to possible evictions in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem. Incitement and inflammatory rhetoric, as witnessed during the recent escalation, only drives and fuels violence,” the MEA Secretary added.
Swarup further said that any attempt to unilaterally change the status-quo that undercut efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution should also be avoided. He also mentioned that the focus of the international community should not be diverted from the immediate needs of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian civilian population, particularly in Gaza.
“Let me conclude by reaffirming India’s unwavering commitment to the establishment of an independent, viable, democratic State of Palestine. There is no alternative to a two-state solution for ensuring meaningful and enduring peace,” Swarup said in his concluding remarks.