India supports homeland for Palestinians : EAM Dr S Jaishankar

New Delhi – External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has made significant observations on the Israel-Palestine conflict in the Middle-East. “There is a very difficult situation going on right now in the Middle East, in West Asia, after the terrorist attack on Israel in October and the Israelis going into Gaza. A lot of people have got killed and fighting is going on even now. In many ways, the problem has escalated,” EAM Jaishankar said while speaking at the ‘Vishwa Bandhu Bharat’ event at Gargi College in the national capital.

India’s long-standing policy towards Palestine includes support for a negotiated two-State solution, towards the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine within secure and recognised borders, living side by side in peace with Israel.

“When Israel and Iran started firing at each other, I personally called up the two foreign ministers on the Prime Minister’s instructions and basically told them that the whole region is worried, urging them not to go forward on this. In terms of the Middle East, we support eventually a homeland for the Palestinians, and we are very public about that as well,” said EAM Jaishankar.

Jaishankar further said, “About 20 of our ships are actually in the Red Sea, making sure that these attacks on shipping, which increases the cost of trade, are limited.”