Sir — This refers to the report, “Govt stands firm; refuses to take sides over Gaza” (July 22). Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj took a wise decision in rejecting the Opposition’s demand in the Rajya Sabha for a resolution condemning Israel. This is an old conflict that began on the issue of a Jewish homeland in Israel following the end of World War II.
Towards the end of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s years of struggle, peace and reconciliation were forged between the two sides with US help. But, sadly, with the demise of Arafat, Palestinian terror groups like Hamas took over, escalating the tension. The Palestinian political leadership assumed a backseat. The latest flare-up was, once again, triggered by Hamas with the killing of three Israeli teenagers and relentless rocket attacks on Israeli areas. Hamas does not seem concerned by Gaza’s civilian fatalities in Israeli counter-attacks, as it was using its people as its shield for propaganda purposes.
Opposition leaders like Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mr Sitaram Yechury and Mr D Raja, in their castigation of the NDA Government’s supposed inaction on Gaza, did not utter a word on the vicious role of Hamas. Israel was their sole bugbear and the whipping boy. Were they serving India’s national interestsIJ