Does India Recognize Palestinian State?
India’s Recognition of the State of Palestine: History, Policy, and Contemporary Context
India’s relationship with the Palestinian cause is one of the longest-standing diplomatic commitments in Asia. Decades before the State of Palestine was formally declared, India had already taken a principled position in support of Palestinian rights. The official recognition of the State of Palestine in 1988 was a culmination of historical solidarity, foreign policy values rooted in anti-colonialism, and India’s broader vision for a just global order. Even as India has developed close ties with Israel in recent decades, its formal recognition of Palestine remains an important part of its foreign policy identity.
Historical Background
The foundation for India’s stance on Palestine was laid during the freedom struggle itself. Indian leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad viewed the Palestinian question through the lens of anti-colonialism. Gandhi, while empathetic to the plight of Jews under European persecution, opposed the idea of establishing a Jewish state in Palestine through displacement of the Arab population. Nehru, as the leader of the Indian National Congress, supported the rights of Palestinians to self-determination, seeing their struggle as parallel to India’s own fight against colonial rule.
This ideological foundation carried over after independence in 1947. India opposed the partition plan for Palestine at the United Nations in 1947, voting against the creation of Israel as proposed by UN General Assembly Resolution 181. This was consistent with India’s stance against the forced division of territories without the consent of indigenous populations.
Formal Diplomatic Engagement Before 1988
India’s first concrete step toward structured relations with Palestinian representatives came in 1974, when the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was recognized as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. This move came after the Arab League’s recognition of the PLO at the Rabat Summit the same year.
In 1975, India allowed the PLO to open an office in New Delhi. This was upgraded to the status of a full-fledged diplomatic mission in 1980. During this period, India consistently supported UN resolutions in favor of Palestinian statehood and opposed Israeli occupation of territories captured in the 1967 Six-Day War, including East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza.
Recognition of the State of Palestine in 1988
On 15 November 1988, the PLO, led by Yasser Arafat, declared the establishment of the State of Palestine at the Algiers session of the Palestinian National Council. The declaration was symbolic, as Palestine remained under Israeli occupation, but it was a diplomatic milestone.
India responded swiftly and officially recognized the State of Palestine in 1988, making it one of the first non-Arab countries to do so. This recognition reaffirmed India’s support for Palestinian sovereignty and its belief in a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders.
The recognition was not merely symbolic; it opened the path for upgrading diplomatic representation. By 1996, the Palestinian mission in New Delhi was upgraded to the Embassy of the State of Palestine.
India’s Support at International Forums
India’s recognition of Palestine has been consistently reflected in its voting record at the United Nations. India has:
- Supported resolutions condemning Israeli settlement activities in occupied territories.
- Backed the Palestinian right to self-determination and statehood.
- Voted in favor of granting Palestine non-member observer state status at the UN in 2012.
India also contributes to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which provides humanitarian aid, education, and health services to Palestinian refugees.
Balancing Palestine and Israel in Modern Diplomacy
The early 1990s marked a significant shift in India’s Middle East policy. India established full diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992, driven by strategic, technological, and defense considerations. Since then, India has deepened security and economic ties with Israel, especially in defense technology, agriculture, and innovation.
However, this warming of relations with Israel has not meant abandoning the Palestinian cause. India has sought a balanced approach, emphasizing that friendship with Israel does not come at the cost of its commitment to Palestine. This dual engagement reflects India’s pragmatic foreign policy, where historical commitments and contemporary strategic needs coexist.
Prime Ministers from both major Indian political parties have demonstrated this balance. For instance:
- In 2015, President Pranab Mukherjee visited both Israel and Palestine.
- In 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first Indian PM to visit Israel, but his trip was carefully separated from Palestine.
- In 2018, Modi visited Ramallah in the West Bank, reaffirming India’s commitment to the Palestinian cause and announcing aid projects in health, education, and IT.
Humanitarian and Developmental Assistance
Beyond political support, India has extended tangible aid to Palestine in multiple areas:
- Budgetary support for the Palestinian Authority.
- Funding the India-Palestine Centre for Excellence in ICT in Ramallah.
- Scholarships for Palestinian students under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program.
- Donations to UNRWA and support for emergency relief in times of conflict.
These initiatives showcase India’s intent to contribute positively to Palestinian institution-building and capacity development.
Two-State Solution and India’s Official Position
India’s recognition of Palestine in 1988 was tied to its official policy of advocating a two-state solution:
- An independent, sovereign, and viable State of Palestine.
- Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security.
- Borders based on the pre-June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.
India has consistently urged both sides to return to direct negotiations and refrain from unilateral actions that undermine peace prospects. It has also opposed terrorism and violence from any quarter, calling for peaceful coexistence.
Challenges in Maintaining the Balance
India’s simultaneous engagement with Israel and Palestine is not without challenges. International observers often scrutinize India’s UN voting patterns, especially when they differ from earlier decades. For example, in recent years, India has occasionally abstained on resolutions critical of Israel, citing the need for balanced language and constructive dialogue.
Additionally, India’s growing defense trade with Israel sometimes raises questions in Palestinian political circles. However, Indian policymakers argue that defense cooperation with Israel serves national security needs and is separate from India’s commitment to Palestinian rights.
Conclusion
India’s recognition of the State of Palestine in 1988 was more than a diplomatic formality; it was a reaffirmation of India’s historical support for anti-colonial struggles, its solidarity with the Arab world, and its commitment to international law. Even as India has expanded its strategic partnership with Israel, it has continued to uphold the Palestinian cause through political, humanitarian, and developmental support.
The challenge for India moving forward lies in preserving this delicate balance—maintaining strategic cooperation with Israel while ensuring that its recognition of Palestine is not perceived as symbolic but remains backed by active support for peace, justice, and sovereignty. In an increasingly polarized global environment, India’s nuanced position serves as an example of how historic solidarity can coexist with modern strategic diplomacy.
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