‘Bilateral ties are not determined by the single issue of Jerusalem vote’

NEW DELHI : The issue of India’s vote against Israel at the United Nations on the status of Jerusalem figured at the discussions, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu agreed that ties “are not determined by a single issue,” government officials said on Monday.

The joint statement issued after the meeting between the two prime ministers contained the traditional formulation of position on the Israel-palestine peace process.

“They reaffirmed their support for an early resumption of peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians for arriving at a comprehensive negotiated solution on all outstanding issues, based on mutual recognition and effective security arrangements, for establishing a just and durable peace in the region,” the statement read.

India had last month joined 127 other countries to vote in the UN in favour of a resolution opposing the recent decision of the United States to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The issue of India voting against Israel came up during the talks and both sides put forth their views, said Vijay Gokhale, the economic relations secretary in the external affairs ministry, answering a question on the issue at the press briefing.

Both the leaders agreed that the ties “are not determined by a single issue,” Gokhale said.

Terming their talks as “wideranging and intensive”, Modi, at a joint press event with Netanyahu, said they reviewed the progress in the bilateral relations and agreed that “the possibilities and the opportunities” that beckon the two countries need to be seized.

Modi became the first Indian PM to visit Israel when he made a stand-alone trip to the Jewish state in July last year.