PM Modi’s Ideological Soul-mate Netanyahu Not Welcome in the Country: Prakash Karat
Image Courtesy: NewIndianExpress
PM Narendra Modi’s ‘ideological soulmate’ from Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, is all set to visit India from January 14. But his official visit has not been welcomed by the Left parties. A collective protest of various Left parties will be held on the January 15 against Netanyahu’s visit. CPI (M), CPI, CGPI, Forward Block, RSP, CPI (ML) Liberation, SUCI-C will be some of the organisations opposing this visit.
“The coalition headed by Netanyahu is the most right-wing government that Israel has had. It consists of ultraright Jewish parties who openly advocate the expulsion of the Palestinian people from the occupied territories and treating the Arabs within the borders of Israel as second-class citizens. As far as the left is concerned, we would be expressing protest against the Israeli government due to the policies of repression of the Palestinian people.” Prakash Karat, Polit Bureau member of CPI(M) told Newsclick.
The visit comes at a time when the two countries' ties are left with a bit of a sour taste in mouth due to India's vote at the United Nations. India chose to vote against Israel and the US and in favour of a UN resolution, co-sponsored by Turkey and Yemen, which rejected Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
The Netanyahu government has legalised the private lands expropriated from Palestinians. It has decided to allow a new settlement to be built in the West Bank after two decades while expanding existing settlements. All this is being done to prevent any possibility of an independent State of Palestine emerging.
“As the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel last year, Modi clearly signalled his support for the Israeli occupation by not visiting the Palestinian authority in the West Bank,” Karat said.
“Contrary to the BJP government’s pro-Israeli stance, India and its people have always stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people and opposed Israeli aggression. Netanyahu should know that his aggressive anti-Palestinian policies are opposed by the secular democratic-minded people of India,” the CPI(M)leader said.
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