New Delhi
9 February 2010
India will host President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine later this week, at a time
when fresh attempts are being made to restart the stalled West Asia peace process.
President Abbas can be expected to seek India's support for his demand that Israel
should freeze settlement activities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, before
negotiations with Israel could resume.
The US has offered to mediate indirect talks between Israel and Palestine, but the
differences between President Abbas' Fatah party and its rival Hamas has complicated
the situation, making intra-Palestinian reconciliation difficult.
The West Asia peace process has remained suspended since Israel's military offensive
on the Gaza Strip in 2008.
The critics of India's burgeoning ties with Israel and its attitude towards the situation in
West Asia cite the discontinuation of Chinmaya Gharekhan's services as Prime
Minister's special envoy for West Asia, as a possible indication of its waning
enthusiasm for the legitimate demands of the Palestinian people.
Although the government insists Mr Gharekhan "relinquished" his position towards the
end of last year, it has not named his successor yet.
India has said that continued expansion of settlements is not helpful to the resumption of
the peace process. It remains committed to the idea of a free, secular and democratic
Palestine. Also, it has endorsed a State of Palestine living within secure and recognised
borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, side by side with the State of Israel.
President Abbas' working visit here will be a part of his Asian tour, which began in Japan
on February 7 and continued in South Korea. He will travel to Pakistan from India.
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