‘Not a negotiating document’: India clarifies on signing UN statement condemning Israeli West Bank expansion India News

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal (ANI photo)

NEW DELHI: The United Nations joint statement signed by India is not a “negotiation document” condemning Israeli expansion in the West Bank, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.The Ministry of External Affairs said New Delhi had expressed its position on enlargement at the Indo-Arab League Ministerial Meeting, which set out a broader vision for deepening relations between the two countries and working towards the establishment of a sovereign and viable Palestinian state living side by side with Israel. The meeting also emphasized the need to develop international relations on the basis of the United Nations Charter.Indian news agency ANI quoted MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal as saying: “The statement referred to is not a negotiating document. Our position on this particular issue has been expressed in the joint statement of the India-Arab League Ministerial Meeting.”The official’s statement broadly suggested that India was not involved in drafting or agreeing to a specific joint statement condemning Israeli expansion in the West Bank. Therefore, this does not reflect India’s formally agreed diplomatic position.More than 100 countries and international organizations, including India, issued a joint statement at the United Nations condemning Israel’s continued consolidation of control over the West Bank, saying these measures violated international law and undermined ongoing efforts for peace and stability in the region.India signed the statement late on Wednesday, just before the deadline for joint censure was set to expire. The statement comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel next week, during which he is also likely to address the Knesset.“We strongly condemn Israel’s unilateral decisions and measures aimed at expanding Israel’s illegal presence in the West Bank,” the statement said. “Such decisions violate Israel’s obligations under international law and must be immediately revoked,” the statement said.It strongly opposes any form of annexation. “We reiterate our rejection of all measures aimed at changing the demographic composition, character and status of the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,” the statement added.