India, Palestine sign six pacts on infrastructure, even as Modi pledged $40 million for the country’s development and expressed support for “a sovereign and independent Palestine”, after landing in Ramallah, headquarters of Palestinian authority, in a first-ever visit by an Indian PM
Narendra Modi on Saturday became the first Indian prime minister to visit the occupied West Bank where he held talks with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas as part of a Middle East tour.
Modi also pledged $40 million for economic development in the Palestinian territories, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian prime minister to the West Bank.
“We discussed regional and global developments that have a role in peace in the world and in the region,” Modi said Saturday in Ramallah, where he appeared alongside Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Modi said he hoped peace could be reached “quickly, through dialogue and understanding.”
“I have once again assured President Abbas that India is bound by a promise to take care of the Palestinian people’s interests,” Modi said following a meeting with the Palestinian leader.
“India hopes that soon Palestine will become a free country in a peaceful manner.”
The trip follows Modi’s visit to Israel last summer, where he opted not to make a detour to the West Bank as part of New Delhi’s efforts to “de-hyphenate” its relations with Israel and the Palestinians.
Last month Modi hosted Benjamin Netanyahu on a week-long visit to India, where the prime minister pitched Israeli prowess in security and technology and sought to revive a half-billion dollar missile deal.
Even as Modi dramatically tightens India’s ties with Israel, New Delhi has continued its longstanding support of the Palestinians in international forums.
In early January India backed a United Nations resolution condemning U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as capital of the Jewish state. New Delhi already sponsors several development projects in Palestinian territories, and Modi said Saturday the $40 million would go for media equipment, schools and a hospital.
Modi also visited the tomb of Yasser Arafat, Abbas’s predecessor, before talks with the current leadership.
Abbas for multi-country peace mediation
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told PM Modi that he is counting on India’s support for a multi-country sponsorship of any future Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
Such a framework would ostensibly replace Washington’s long-standing monopoly as mediator. Abbas rejected the traditional US role after President Donald Trump recognized contested Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in December. Abbas has appealed to the international community to demand a say in future negotiations, but has so far failed to secure commitments.
“We count on India, an international force on a strategic and economic level, to help Palestinians achieve a just peace in our region,” Abbas said at the news conference.
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 "Narendra Modi-Mahmoud Abbas-AFP")
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