By: Gary Fitleberg
jewsinthenews4@yahoo.com
September 06, 2003

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with an emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Something isn’t quite kosher about these strange bedfellows.

India is sending international mixed messages regarding its Middle East policy. The policy presently being pursued is a double-edged sword. One that cuts to the chaste. The policy appears to be a blessing but in fact is really a curse.

After shunning Israel for four decades, New Delhi, a staunch supporter of Palestine established diplomatic ties with the Jewish State of Israel during the 1990. Israel has now emerged as India’s second largest defense supplier.

Suprisingly, Ambassador of Palestine to India Osama Musa has given his approval and blessing to India and Israel’s rapidly growing diplomatic relations. Musa noted for the record it’s the sovereign right of every country to establish the type of relationships it wants with others. Musa reasoned that Israel has relationships with both Egypt and Jordan. Musa concluded that it relevant is where India stands on the Palestinian issue.

The logic is profound. Each and every sovereign nation state does indeed have the right to establish the type of relationships it wants with others. Is Palestine a sovereign nation state? Or is it a mythical nation with a mythical people?

It is an interesting stretch of the imagination to compare the relationship between Israel and India with that which Israel shares together with both Egypt and Jordan at best.

One thing Musa is clearly right on is his conclusion. What is relevant is where India stands on the Palestinian issue. It is clearly impossible and wrong to support Israel while supporting a fictional nation and people bent on the destruction of that nation.

Describing India as a country of principles, Musa said India has been supporting the Palestine cause to uphold its own ideology and reputation.

What principles? Should India maintain a political support of a terrorist nation and people? While accepting military capabilities from that terrorist nations sworn enemy? Does this make any sense to you? If India maintains such principles regarding Palestine then doesn’t it make sense they would have similar principles regarding Kashmir?

Musa also pointed out that the Occupation of Kashmir and Palestine can not be equated. Agreed. The people of Kashmir are an indigenous people. The people claiming to be Palestinians are in deed in fact Arabs!!! Nothing more. Nothing less.

They are Arab refugees from neighboring nations such as Jordan and Syria. They left either involuntarily or voluntarily. Escaping oppression and poverty. When the Jews offered them opportunities for a better quality of life. Most of the Arabs, contrary to popular belief and fiction, did not reside in the disputed territories for generations as they claim. Most arrived during the 1920’s forward.

“Palestine” is a political propaganda tool of the Arab League utilized solely for the annihilation internally of the nation State of Israel. In fact, the “occupation” by Arabs of Israel’s disputed territories of Gaza as well as Judea & Samaria (falsely called the “West Bank”) existed for nineteen years from 1948-1967 when Israel lost its land when attacked by its neighboring nations in its defensive “War of Independence!!!

Musa boastfully declared when it supports us, it stands with 80 other nations adding this gives it weight and power.

Since Palestine has never been a sovereign state should it be allowed to establish Ambassadors?(of propaganda and terror) and embassies worldwide? (That’s another story entirely!!!). Does the fact that 80 other nations stand with Palestine make it economically, morally, politically acceptable? Or does India support terrorist regimes?

Why does India support the concept of “occupation” of Palestine when it does not support the “occupation” of Kashmir? Shouldn’t Kashmir have a right to self-determination and separate statehood? What weight and power is clearly demonstrated by support of Palestine?

India is walking a dangerous diplomatic tightrope. Will it fail and fall? Or will it stand tall?

There is absolutely no room for dancing and double standards in international politics. Especially towards a true ally, friend and supporter.

India wants to enjoy the best of both diplomatic worlds. India must make a clear choice between Israel and the mythical Palestine if it wants not to appear to be a two-faced nation and a dependable, forthright and moral nation. It must show its true colors and clearly demonstrate as an ally friendship and support of Israel; a staunch supporter and true friend. One that in part, or in sum, is definitely linked to its very survival in a hostile and volatile conflagration with the Pakistan nation.

India must make and take a clear choice between Israel and Palestine?!! Right Now!!!

Gary Fitleberg