Sir — This refers to the article, “US does Israel-Palestine peace a bad turn” (December 30) by Yasir Ali Mirza. The challenge before our diplomatic corps has always been to extract the most out of a given situation and secure the best possible terms for the country. To strike a win-win deal, both formal as well as backdoor diplomatic channels are often employed. India’s well manipulated stance at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on the Jerusalem issue is a testimony to the same.
While voting in favour of the resolution, India pacified the Arab world and earned political capital, but without causing any tangible strain on the relationship with the US and Israel, as is being misconceived widely. India’s stake in the Gulf cannot be overemphasised, considering its vote, which reflected its long adopted principled approach towards Israel-Palestine conflict resolution and its interests vis-à-vis energy security, diaspora and incoming remittances and investments. While India’s stand assured the world of its position as an exponent of equality and justice, it is also a statement of the country’s independent foreign policy.
Prima facie, the vote could be perceived as one against the US and Israel. However, in a world where multilateralism is ebbing and bilateralism or minilateralism is shaping the geopolitical landscape, the UNGA vote has inconsequential impact on our equation with the two.
India has been declared as a ‘major defence partner’ by the US and finds mention as a “global leading power” in its recent National Security Strategy.
Our proximity with Israel has increased tremendously in recent times despite India voting against it in earlier UN resolutions. The heartwarming welcome of the Indian Prime Minister in Israel, the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately after the vote and the recent decision by the country’s Parliament to allow Indian companies to explore their oilfields, is a demonstration of our ironclad ties.
The strength of our relation with the two cannot be tested on the anvil of UNGA vote. This proposition holds true for other all-weather allies of the US who defected in the resolution. The vote can also be seen as a bargaining chip against Pakistan which has already started to fructify with Palestine recalling its envoy to Pakistan over attending a rally organised by Hafiz Saeed.
Diplomacy, no doubt, requires reconciliation with all engaging parties and confrontation with none. Our foreign policy experts are cognizant about the ground realities and are better placed to achieve India’s strategic interests. Though abstention seemed a favourable and safe alternative, it would not have resulted in any meaningful diplomatic dividend. India has truly played a master stroke in getting a bang for its buck.