India Joins 164 Other Countries In Favor Of Palestine’s Right Toward Self Determination

The Israel-Palestine conflict that has grown into one of the world’s most fiercely-debated, widely-polarising, and extensively-reported matters may never see a peaceful solution to a bitter fallout that first gained international recognition during 1967.

If one happens to rewind the clocks then it’s not so encouraging to note that even after well over 5 decades since the Israel-Palestine crisis took shape, the issue hasn’t ever seen a peaceful intervention, let alone an amicable settlement. Yet, nothing would stop several of the world’s countries to vote in favour of Palestine’s right toward self-determination.

If one was to actually try and take cognisance of the collateral damage that the wide disparity between Israel and Palestine has caused, a geopolitical tension that began with Israel’s occupation (of neighbouring Palestine) in 1967, then perhaps no quantity of paper in the world would suffice in capturing the disconsolation and disgruntlement of the Palestinians.

While peace activists can very well and should hope for brotherhood and equanimity to prevail, at the end of the day, between the two warring communities, but one notes the massive bloodshed and emotional divide that such a massive crisis has caused.

Recently, India stuck to its historic stance when it voted in favor of Palestine’s right toward self determination. The simple, moral, and conscientious step taken by the world’s largest democracy meant that India joined some 164 other nations in voting in favor of Palestine.

At the face of it, it may seem a bit of a tricky situation since India and Israel, to this day, seven decades since the two countries’ founding, continue to foster warm ties and enjoy a close bilateral relationship. Some might even rightly suggest that India’s pro-Palestine stance might anger or irk Israel.

But that’s what it is, from India’s point of view. The country stands in great solidarity with Palestine as along with 164 other nations on the face of the earth, India voted in favour of the resolution titled, “The Right Of The Palestine People Toward Self-Determination”, at the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee.

But obviously, there also were countries that voted against the motion. These included- Israel, the United States, Micronesia, Nauru, and the Marshall Islands.

One’s also got to ask whether there were some countries that simply abstained from voting?

To that end, it’s important to note that the likes of Australia, Guatemala, Rwanda abstained from voting. In all, there was a total of 9 countries that did not register their vote.

Here are some interesting details about the breaking piece of news, as shared by India Today:

The resolution was sponsored by North Korea, Egypt, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe and Palestine and voting took place on November 19, 2019.

The vote came a day after the announcement of the policy change by the US on Israeli settlements in “Occupied Palestinian territory”.

On Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, “Calling the establishment of civilian settlements inconsistent with international law hasn’t worked. It hasn’t advanced the cause of peace.”

Pompeo’s statement, however, was met with criticism.

While reacting to the policy reversal announced by the US, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, during a press conference on Tuesday in New York, said: “The longstanding position of the UN regarding Israeli settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territory – that they are in breach of international law – is unchanged.”