RAMALLAH – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged $40 million in aid to Palestine.
Modi’s announcement came during the first-ever visit by an Indian head of state to the West Bank.
“We discussed regional and global developments that have a role in peace in the world and in the region,” Bloomberg reported the prime minister as saying, as he stood alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
After holding talks with President Abbas, Modi said India hoped to see an “independent Palestinian state living in an environment of peace”.
Earlier he met Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and visited the Yasser Arafat Museum where he laid a wreath, the Aljazeera reported.
Friendship between India and Palestine has stood the test of time. The people of Palestine have shown remarkable courage in the face of several challenges. India will always support Palestine’s development journey.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 10, 2018
In a Twitter post on Friday, Modi noted looking forward to “reaffirming our support for the Palestinian people and the development of Palestine”.
Last summer, Modi visited Israel but did not stop over in the West Bank. New Delhi has since pursued efforts to “de-hyphenate” its relations with Israel and the Palestinians.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/world/modi-becomes-first-indian-pm-to-visit-israel/
Traditionally, India has been a vocal champion of the Palestinian cause.
India is today the largest importer of Israeli arms in the world, accounting for 41 per cent of the latter’s arms sales.
In January, Modi hosted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his week-long trip to India, where he sought to revive a $500 million anti-tank missile deal.
New Delhi already provides development assistance in the Palestinian territories, with the $40 million announced on Saturday earmarked for media equipment, schools and a hospital.
“We count on India, an international force on a strategic and economic level, to help Palestinians achieve a just peace in our region,” Abbas said.
Prior to arriving at the occupied Palestinian territories, Modi met Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Amman. He is scheduled to head to the UAE and Oman on Sunday, as part of his regional tour.
