NEW DELHI — The Congress on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his Israel visit, saying the PM is displaying “moral cowardice” when the entire world is critical of his “dear friend” and Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said Prime Minister Modi is “brazenly embracing” his Israeli counterpart, who has reduced Gaza to rubble and dust and who is orchestrating the expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, reported PTI.
On May 20, 1960, Jawaharlal Nehru was in Gaza and met with the
Indian contingent of the UN Emergency Force there, Ramesh recalled.
On November 29, 1981, India issued a commemorative postage stamp in solidarity with Palestine and on November 18, 1988, India formally recognised the state of Palestine, he pointed out.
“That was a different era. Now the Indian Prime Minister is brazenly embracing the Prime Minister of Israel, who has reduced Gaza to rubble and dust and who is orchestrating the expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank,” Ramesh said on X.
“When the entire world is critical of his ‘dear friend’ Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Modi will be displaying moral cowardice,” he alleged.
Modi’s visit begins on Wednesday to shore up bilateral defence and trade cooperation between the two countries.
It will be Modi’s second visit to Israel in nine years.
The India-Israel relationship was elevated to the level of a strategic partnership during Modi’s first visit to that country in July 2017.
The Congress on Tuesday alleged that the government has abandoned the Palestinians and said the prime minister was going to Israel despite that country’s attacks on civilians in Gaza continue “mercilessly”.
