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India struck a balancing act between Israel and Palestine at the UN

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India struck a balancing act between Israel and Palestine at the UN

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement read out at the UN signals that India has not totally abandoned the aspirations of the people of Palestine

~By Seema Guha

India’s reiteration of its support for the creation of an independent state of Palestine to exist side by side with Israel, would have come as a surprise to those who believed that Delhi has shifted its historical support for their cause.

India made its position clear in a message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, read out on his behalf at the United Nations, ahead of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. “We hope for early realisation of a sovereign, independent, united and viable Palestine, co-existing peacefully with Israel,” Modi’s statement said.

Successive Indian governments had supported the 1947 UN Resolution which supports a two-state solution for the long standing Israel-Palestine dispute.

There is fresh global movement on getting the dialogue started between the two sides. US President Donald Trump is keen on resolving the issue during his term in office. Apart from US officials he has directed his Jewish son-in-law Jared Kushner and now an adviser to the President to try and break the deadlock. Behind the scene diplomacy is said to be on. This is why Modi’s statement includes the lines: “India hopes for early resumption of dialogue between the Palestinian and the Israeli sides to move towards finding a comprehensive negotiated resolution.”

Modi also mentioned Delhi’s involvement in development activities in Palestine: “India is an active development partner of Palestine, engaged in extending technical and financial assistance to improve the lives of the Palestinian people. We will continue to support the development and nation-building efforts of Palestine.”

The statement will have made the Palestinian leadership as well as the people happy. This is because in the last two decades India was perceived to be lukewarm to the Palestinian cause. Even the Congress party, which had been an ardent supporter of Palestinian rights during Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi’s term, was less vocal about its support.

The BJP, even when not in power had been an ardent advocate of Israel. But full diplomatic ties with Israel were carried out done under the Congress government of PV Narasimha Rao in 1992. Since then there have been no looking back. Relations with Israel had thrived both during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh era.

Narendra Modi was the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel earlier this year. He was given a red carpet welcome by Prime Minister Benjamin Nethanyahu. For the first time, Delhi which had previously balanced all previous visits to Israel by dignitaries with a simultaneous trip to Ramallah – the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority, had a stand-alone visit to Tel Aviv.

However, despite the BJP’s strong stand on Israel, Narendra Modi took care not to turn his back to Palestine. President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, was in India on a four day visit before Modi’s trip to Israel in July.

India’s balancing act with both Israel and Palestine is continuing, despite the BJP’s government’s admiration for Israel and desire to forge long lasting understanding with Tel Aviv.

Modi like PV Narasimha Rao before him is a pragmatic politician, who will not allow ideological considerations to come in the way of his diplomacy.

The BJP has always had a special affinity to Israel, because of its strong militarist approach to Palestine. Many in the RSS admire Israel’s anti-Muslim stand, considering that most Palestinians follow Islam. The RSS is known to be against Muslims.

Yet Modi has gone out of his way to befriend the Gulf nations. He has visited UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and built relations with the ruling families of each of these countries.  He is well aware that over seven million Indians live and work out of the region and send back remittances varying from $35 to $40 billion each year.

Modi’s statement read out at the UN signals that India’s support for Palestine may not be as strong as it was during the past, but it has not totally abandoned the aspirations of the people of Palestine.

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Trump says Iran agrees to never have nuclear weapons, rejects $300 billion fund claim

Donald Trump said Iran has agreed to never possess nuclear weapons under a proposed framework, while dismissing reports that the US would provide Tehran with a $300 billion reconstruction fund.

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Donald Trump statement

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran has agreed to a commitment that it will never develop or possess nuclear weapons, describing it as a central element of a proposed understanding between Washington and Tehran.

Speaking about the ongoing diplomatic efforts, Trump also rejected reports suggesting that the United States planned to provide Iran with a reconstruction or investment package worth $300 billion. He described such claims as false and said no such arrangement had been agreed.

The remarks come as discussions continue over a broader framework aimed at easing tensions between the two countries. According to Trump, the understanding would ensure that Iran remains without nuclear weapons while opening the door for future engagement if the terms are respected.

Questions remain over final agreement details

Despite Trump’s comments, several aspects of the proposed arrangement remain unclear because the full text of the agreement has not yet been made public.

Reports indicate that negotiations have involved discussions on sanctions relief, access to frozen assets and potential economic measures linked to Iran’s compliance with future commitments. However, the exact scope of these provisions has not been officially confirmed.

Another key issue is how compliance would be monitored. Details regarding inspections, verification mechanisms and the handling of Iran’s existing nuclear materials have yet to be fully explained.

Further negotiations expected

Officials have suggested that discussions on technical nuclear matters could continue even after the signing of an initial memorandum of understanding. Such talks would likely focus on implementation and verification measures.

The proposed framework is being closely watched internationally, as any agreement between the United States and Iran could have significant implications for regional stability and global non-proliferation efforts.

For now, Trump has maintained that the core objective remains clear: ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon while denying reports that Washington has committed to a multibillion-dollar reconstruction fund.

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USA start FIFA World Cup 2026 with dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay

The USA opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey with a dominant 4-1 victory against Paraguay, earning three valuable points in Group D.

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The United States kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in impressive fashion, securing a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their Group D opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, the hosts delivered an attacking display to collect all three points and make an early statement in the tournament. The match also marked a significant occasion as the USA hosted part of the World Cup opening festivities before turning attention to the action on the pitch.

The Americans took control early and maintained pressure on Paraguay throughout the contest. Their attacking movement and clinical finishing helped them establish a comfortable lead, while Paraguay struggled to contain the hosts’ pace and creativity in the final third.

USA seize control after fast start

The United States settled quickly and found success going forward, creating several opportunities through quick passing and aggressive pressing. Their attacking approach paid off as they built momentum and gradually stretched Paraguay’s defence.

Paraguay attempted to respond and managed to get on the scoresheet, but the South American side found it difficult to match the intensity shown by the hosts. The USA continued to create chances and added further goals to put the result beyond doubt.

With the victory, the United States moved to the top section of Group D and gained an important boost in confidence ahead of their upcoming fixtures in the tournament.

Strong opening result for hosts

A winning start is particularly important in a World Cup campaign, and the USA achieved exactly that with a comprehensive performance. The result gives the hosts valuable momentum as they prepare for the next stage of group play.

For Paraguay, the defeat means they will need a strong response in their remaining group matches to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds alive.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the tournament featuring an expanded format and more participating teams than previous editions.

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Jaishankar raises deaths of three Indian sailors with Marco Rubio, lodges strong protest

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed India’s strong protest to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over an attack that killed three Indian sailors, stressing that lethal action against commercial shipping is unjustified.

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External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday spoke with Marco Rubio and conveyed India’s strong protest over recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf that resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors.

According to reports, Jaishankar told Rubio that the use of lethal force against commercial shipping was not justified and underlined India’s serious concerns regarding the safety of civilian seafarers operating in the region. The conversation came days after three Indian mariners were killed in an attack on the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello near the Oman coast.

The incident has triggered diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Washington. India had earlier summoned a senior US diplomat to register its concerns and seek accountability following the attack. The Ministry of External Affairs has emphasized that actions endangering civilian shipping undermine maritime safety and stability in a strategically important region.

India reiterates concern over maritime safety

India has stressed the importance of protecting civilian seafarers and ensuring the security of international maritime commerce. Officials have expressed concern over multiple incidents involving Indian crew members in West Asian waters in recent days.

The deaths of the three sailors have also sparked calls within India for stronger diplomatic efforts to safeguard Indian nationals working aboard commercial vessels in conflict-affected maritime zones.

Background of the incident

The attack involved the tanker Settebello, which was operating near Oman when it was struck during ongoing tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran and maritime operations in the Gulf region. Initial reports indicated that Indian crew members were among those affected, and later confirmations established that three Indian sailors had died in the incident.

India has maintained that civilian shipping should not become a target and has continued diplomatic outreach to ensure the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers working across global shipping routes.

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