Good relations of BJP leaders with Israel; India treads a cautious line on ongoing conflict in Gaza

NEW DELHI: One reason why external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj rejected calls for discussions and a Parliament resolution on the ongoing conflict in Gaza could be the good relation she and other senior leaders keep with Israel.

Swaraj was the chief of India-Israeli Parliamentary Friendship Forum in the past and has visited Tel Aviv in this capacity. Also, she and home minister Rajnath Singh are expected to visit Israel later this year. People aware of the matter told ET that the Israeli Embassy in India had briefed Swaraj on the Gaza conflict and senior Israeli diplomats had also met BJP leaders to convey their government’s position.

Tel Aviv conveyed to the Indian establishment that it was not a fight between innocent Palestinians and Israel defence forces, but one between a state and a terror organisation (Hamas). "Swaraj's position was justified as it did not signal any change on India’s position on Palestine. This government also believes in a two-state solution and the MEA statement made it clear,” an official told ET on condition of anonymity.

"But the current situation is not about Israel-Palestine peace negotiations.

Tel Aviv is reacting to the Hamas strategy to target Israeli citizens," the person said.

Many BJP leaders have links with Israel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tel Aviv as the chief minister of Gujarat, which has old diamond trade ties with Israel. In fact, diamond trading constitutes almost half of India-Israel business.

Transport and rural development minister Nitin Gadkari too visited Israel three years ago when he was the BJP chief.

Ohad Horsandi, spokesperson of the Israeli Embassy in India, told ET that Tel Aviv would not like to comment on internal political issues and Parliamentary proceedings in India. “The Israeli Defence Forces are not targeting Palestinians. They are targeting a terror outfit in the Gaza strip and their capabilities.

The residents in the Gaza strip are being used as human shield by the Hamas resulting in the casualties,” Horsandi said.