New Delhi: Israel said Friday that the scrapping of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter of India, and hoped that the Narendra Modi government would settle the issue in a democratic and peaceful manner.
“As we see it, it’s within Indian borders, something that is internal in India, an Indian issue,” said Ron Malka, the Israeli ambassador to India.
“We know India is the biggest democracy in the world, (it) respects individual rights, respects the rule of law and I am sure India will resolve this issue in democratic ways and in peaceful ways and that’s what we are just waiting to see.”
Malka, who was interacting with the Indian Association of Foreign Affairs Correspondents, said that India continued to be a “close and precious friend” of Israel, and both sides cooperated with each other on issues related to counter-terrorism, among other things.
On the recently-cancelled visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to India, the envoy said it happened due to “scheduling issues” and does not imply that India is any less important a partner.
Netanyahu was scheduled to arrive in India for a day-long visit on 9 September to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is the second time this year that he has cancelled a visit to India — he did the same in April too.
Elections in Israel
Netanyahu is the longest-serving prime minister of Israel, having been in the chair since 2009. He broke the record of David Ben-Gurion, the founder of the state of Israel and its first PM, who ruled from 1948-54, and again from 1955-63.
However, after the elections in April this year, Netanyahu’s ruling Likud Party failed to stitch together a coalition. The country’s lawmakers then dissolved the Knesset, its Parliament, and called for fresh polls. The country will vote on 17 September.
“This is a reflection of true democracy. There were elections, no one could form a coalition, so we are having re-elections. The fact that we are going for another election has nothing to do with instability. Israel is a very stable country,” Malka said.
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Israel has been an all weather ally and friend of India. Israel’s support and lobbying on our behalf has helped us through many negotiations, deals, UNGA and UNSC proceedings.
It was the greatest folly of Nehruvian politics to make an issue out of Palestine and continually haul Israel over the coals in every single international forum. Full credit must be given to Mr. P V Narasimha Rao, under whose visionary leadership India re-established full diplomatic relations with Israel. He displayed tremendous courage and clairvoyance in taking this momentous decision. As expected, the Indian Left was the one which opposed the move with all its might.
Someone has tweeted that since 5th August, India has agreed to additional imports of $ 6 billion from the US, extended a line of credit of $ 1 billion to Russia and is considering buying another 36 Rafale jets from France. Perhaps Israel too should receive an order for missiles …