TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to commence his visit to Palestine on February 10 and will be landing in Ramallah. This tour will be the first-ever official visit by an Indian prime minister to Palestine, just like the Israeli visit last year in July.
The Government of India said this decision is taken to “de-hyphenate” relations with the two countries, reports the Times of India and not to be seen as a balancing act according to traditional practice.
The confirmation on the date of the visit comes when India is hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara on a six-day visit. This visit is considered an important one as it comes after India voted against US’ recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in the UN, which was deliberated to implement the longstanding diplomatic position.
PM Modi is expected to take a chopper from Amman in Jordon to Ramallah in the West Bank, the de facto administrative capital of Palestine. The city of Ramallah is near Jerusalem and that can be considered as important in the current circumstances of the policy of de-hyphenating Israel-Palestine relations.
Last year, while PM Modi was an Israeli guest, Palestine was left red-faced as he did not travel to Ramallah. Khalil Shikaki, the Director of Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research told journalist last year, “The current PM (Modi) seems more interested in security and in relations with the West. Palestinians seem to believe that they can no longer count on India’s support.”
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