No change in stance on Palestine, says India

India Friday said that there was no change in its policy of extending support to the cause of Palestine while maintaining good relations with Israel.

Answering a query about reports that the Narendra Modi government could change India's stance on the vote for the Palestinian cause at the UN, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said there was no change in India's stance.

"I can state that there is no change in our policy of extending strong support to the Palestinian cause while maintaining good relations with Israel," he said.

Akbaruddin said that the government had stated its stance in parliament also and conveyed that India's position on the Palestinian question was inspired by its own freedom struggle led by Mahatma Gandhii.

The spokesperson said that Prime Minister Modi in his message to United Nations on the international day for solidarity with Palestinian people had reiterated support for the cause of Palestine.

He said India supports a negotiated solution, resulting in a sovereign, independent, viable and united state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, living within secure and recognized borders, side by side and at peace with Israel.