India’s Modi expresses backing for Palestinian state during Abbas visit
PA president says he seeks New Delhi’s support for peace process • Sides sign cooperation agreements
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday discussed the Middle East peace process with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought New Delhi’s cooperation to end the long-standing conflict with Israel.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump vowed to do “whatever is necessary” to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians as he hosted Abbas at the White House, but gave no sign of how he could revive the longstalled negotiations.
Abbas reasserted the goal of a Palestinian state, saying it must have east Jerusalem as its capital with the lines that existed before the 1967 Six Day War. However, most Israelis want all of Jerusalem as their capital and reject a full return to the pre-1967 lines, seeing it as a threat to their security.
Modi backed a sovereign and independent Palestinian state, coexisting peacefully with Israel.
Meanwhile, India and the Palestinians inked five agreements to enhance cooperation in the fields of information technology and health, among others.
Modi is due to make the first visit to Israel by a sitting Indian prime minister on July 5 and 6.
Although the final itinerary has not yet been set, Modi – in a break from previous high-profile visits to Israel by senior Indian officials – is not expected to visit the Palestinian Authority. In February, Modi approved a $2.5 billion missile deal with Israel.
Next week, Trump is due to visit the region on his first foreign trip as president. During his visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories on May 22 and 23, Trump is expected to lay out his vision for a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. (Reuters)
Herb Keinon contributed to this report.