We want a stronger statement from India against Donald Trump on Jerusalem: Palestine’s envoy

Palestine’s Ambassador to India Adnan Abu Alhaijaa has expressed concern over lack of support from the present Indian government, in the wake of US President Donald Trump recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The envoy also hoped that India could be part of a new mediating body, alongside the European powers, that would negotiate peace and Palestinian statehood with the Israel-US axis.

Alhaijaa spoke to National Herald on the potential repercussions of US President Donald Trump’s decision and Modi government’s stand on the question of Palestinian statehood.

Below are edited excerpts from what Alhaijaa said during the interaction:

Trump’s decision detrimental to world peace

The Donald Trump administration’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is violation of the international law as well as violation of all the agreements that have been signed by the Israelis till now. The decision is, all the more, shocking as it comes from a country that has always called itself a mediator in the Israel-Palestine Peace Process.

If we talk about the step itself, there has been a law to the effect in the US Congress since 1995. But previous American presidents have been wary of implementing the legislation, fearing that such a sensitive matter could have dangerous implications for the world peace. East Jerusalem, with its Muslim as well as Christian religious places, has a bearing for almost the entire world.

Jerusalem has been part of the land that has been occupied since 1967. So, Mr Trump’s unilateral announcement without re-entering the Israel-Palestine peace negotiations only points to one thing – that Mr Trump is doing Israel’s bidding. The US no longer deserves to be the primary mediator in the Israel-Palestine peace process.

The entire world has condemned America’s decision – be it Britain, France, Russia, China or the countries of the Islamic world. The cause of an independent Palestinian state is supported by 138 countries worldwide. It is only America’s veto that’s keeping the state of Palestine from being recognised by the UN Security Council.

What the Palestine people are wanting is just 22 per cent of what was the historical state of Palestine. The Gaza Strip and West Bank don’t comprise more than 22 per cent of the historical state of Palestine. But the Israelis want negotiations even on that.

In a nutshell, it was quite stupid of Mr Trump to make such an announcement in the face of atrocities that the Palestinian people have been facing. The decision doesn’t serve the interest of peace.

Third Intifada

There is likely to be a Third Intifada against the Israelis. We will also use the international law and urge the Security Council to recognise the state of Palestine.

The show of support for the Palestinian cause from different countries should be understood in terms of the fact that Mr Trump’s announcement affects the security of entire world, not just the Middle-East. America’s decision is encouraging violence and enabling extremist groups on both sides, Jewish militias and Islamist militants.

The kind of colonialism practised by Israelis in Palestine is the worst form of colonialism the world has ever seen. They are sectarian, they discriminate, and they want the whole land for themselves, all at the same time. On top of everything, they want peace from our side, even as they jail and kill Palestinians with impunity on daily basis. If any other country except Israel had done it, we would have seen international sanctions and outcry.

Want India as a mediator

We are in discussions with our friends and sympathisers all over the world. There is consensus that there has to be a new international strategy after the recent developments. Since US is no longer an objective mediator in the Israel-Palestine peace process, there is a need for having new mediators.

I really hope India can be part of this new mediating body, which will also have other countries on it. The contours of the Palestinian struggle for statehood have changed dramatically after America’s decision. Nineteen-forty eight, when Israel’s borders were drawn within the Palestinian state, is a distant memory now.

Any country that follows the international law and abides by the UN Security Council and the General Assembly resolutions on the Israel-Palestine dispute is welcome to negotiate for peace and Palestinian statehood.

For instance, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Britain’s PM Theresa May, leaders of Sweden and several other European states have attacked Mr Trump’s decision. They are speaking up for Palestinian people not to gain their sympathy, but because they understand that a negotiate settlement on Jerusalem is conducive for world peace and not just the well-being of the Middle-East.

We have an IOC meeting in Turkey and the Palestinian leadership is chalking out a new international strategy on Palestine.

India’s stand concerning

We have discussed the issue with our Indian counterparts at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). We have been told by our Indian friends that it is New Delhi’s state policy to not react dramatically on any international issue, not only Palestine. We believe that India’s attitude is similar to that of countries of the Arab world.

To be honest, we would like to hear India’s voice on this important and strategic matter. We want their opinion as to what they think of Mr Trump’s move to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. We want a clear opinion from India, unlike the one expressed in the MEA statement.

At the Arab-India Cooperation Forum in Manama in 2016, there was a very clear joint statement where the participating sides expressed their support for Palestinian statehood. We even heard good things from PM Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ visit to India last year.

It also must not be forgotten that India was the leading voice in the Non-Aligned Movement in the 1950s and was standing firmly behind the Palestinian people.

So, we would like a strong statement from the current Indian government.

India should take cues from France, Britain

I hope India’s stand is the same as it has been all along. I hope that India’s stand on Palestine is the same as it was during the joint statement with the Arabs in Manama last year. I hope there is a stronger statement from India against Mr Trump’s announcement to move the American embassy to Jerusalem.

Take for example the European leaders. Everyone in Europe is attacking Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, be it France, Germany or Britain. None of them are accepting Mr Trump’s decision and have reaffirmed their attitudes toward Jerusalem. None of them recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.