On record, the government has denied any policy shift, saying india abstained because the resolution made a reference to taking Israel to the worldwide Criminal Court, which India considers intrusive.
Their bonding was reflected in a recent announcement that Modi would be visiting Israel later this year, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do so since the two countries established full-fledged diplomatic ties in 1992.
“This is a huge development for India, one of the leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement, which as a movement always voted against Israel”, he noted.
It also highlighted the civilian deaths during last year’s conflict and calls for “accountability and justice for all violations of worldwide law” on both sides.
But India on Friday stated that “there is no change in New Delhi’s long-standing position on support to the Palestinian cause”. The Centre had come under fire in 2014 when it voted in favour of another UNHRC resolution seeking a probe into Israel’s Gaza offensive.
Israeli envoy to India Daniel Carmon tweeted, “We appreciate votes by members of @UN_HRC, including #India, who did not support yet another anti Israel bashing resolution”.
Hoenlein, the head of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said at a briefing to The Jerusalem Post editorial staff on Sunday that he was not sure the French will go ahead with their plans if they feel the United States will veto it, or if the Palestinians will not be satisfied with a “watered down” resolution the Americans might be willing accept.
Officials here said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reached out to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and urged him to abstain during the UNHRC voting.
India’s constant support for resolutions condemning Israel in favour of Palestinians at United Nations forums has probably been the only irritant in an otherwise ever-strengthening ties between the two countries.
Modi will visit Israel later this year, or early next year.
While 41 countries (including most of the European Union) voted in favour of adopting the report, five, including India, abstained.
