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Palestine for PM Modi role in West Asia

Modi said that it would be his fifth visit to the West Asian region since 2015, showing his priorities for his external engagements.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi met His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan on Friday —twitter/@narendramodi
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi left on Friday for Jordan, Palestine, the UAE and Oman, a crucial four-nation tour that comes six months after his ground-breaking visit to Israel and within weeks of hosting his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.

Jordan was added in his itinerary in the last minute, as Modi preferred to reach Palestine via Jordanian capital Amman, instead of landing at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv — a symbolic message to de-hyphenate the two nations and treat them as per India's national interests.

"Now we see them both as mutually independent and exclusive," said B Bala Bhaskar, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, who oversaw preparations for the visit.

Modi said that it would be his fifth visit to the West Asian region since 2015, showing his priorities for his external engagements.

Palestinian President Abbas has asked India to play a bigger role in enhancing peace in the region. "We believe in the importance of a possible Indian role... to reach a final agreement," he said. In 1960, first PM Jawaharlal Nehru had visited Gaza Strip on his way back from London.

Experts here believe that more than symbolism, Modi's Palestine visit carries a deft diplomatic message to Arab nations — not to fall into the trap of Pakistan equating the Palestine cause with the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

Officials here said the trip was aimed at assuring Arab leadership about India's continued commitment to the cause of an independent Palestine State.

Bhaskar said the visit will also strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and India. He said the PA understands the activities of various groups inimical to India's interests.

Palestinian envoy in Delhi Adnan Abu Alhaijaa also said that his country was keen to take advantage of Modi's excellent relations with Israel. "We welcome any Indian engagement to revive the stalled peace process," he said.

The envoy also hoped the visit will bolster cooperation in different spheres, especially trade, culture, technology, and information.

He also asked Indian business community to distinguish between investing in Israel and in the "illegal" settlements in West Bank.

On Agenda 

  • Lay a wreath at Yasser Arafat’s memorial before formal discussions with Abbas 
  • Express solidarity with Palestine and address concerns in the Arab world after growing proximity with Israel 
  • Engage in Palestinian nation-building and convey that it supports Palestine cause
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