"India asked to clarify position on Trump's Jerusalem move"

"India asked to clarify position on Trump's Jerusalem move"

NEW DELHI (monitoring Desk): A dozen Arab ambassadors have asked India to clarify its position on the US recognition of Jerusalem as Isreal's capital, diplomatic sources said, after New Delhi's muted response suggested a shift in support for the Palestinian cause. US President Donald Trump abruptly reversed decades of US policy this month when he recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital,, generating outrage from Palestinians. Trump also plans to move the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. Countries around the world, including US allies Britain and France, criticized Trump's decision, but India did not take sides. Instead, the Indian foreign ministry in a brief statement, said India's position was consistent and independent of any third party. The bland stamen made no reference to Jerusalem and prompted criticism at home that it was insufficient, vague and anti-Palestinian. Israel maintains that all of Jerusalem is its capital Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state and say Trump's move has left them marginalized and jeopardized any hopes of a two state  solution. Last week, envoys from Arab states including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Kuwait based in New Delhi met Indian junior foreign minister M.J Akbar to brief the government about an Arab League meeting on Dec. 9 condemning the US decision, a diplomatic and an Indian government source said, The envoys also sought a more forthright Indian repose, the sources said. But Akbar gave no assurance and the Indian source said the government had no plans for further articulation on Jerusalem, which is at the heart of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. "Akbar did not promise anything," the diplomatic source briefed on the meeting said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of diplomatic sensitivities. India was one of the earliest and vocal champions of the Palestinian cause during the days it was leading the Non-Aligned Movement while it quietly pursued ties with Israel. But under Prime Minister Modi, New Delhi has moved to a more open relationship with Israel, lifting the curtain on thriving military ties and also home land security cooperation. Modi in July made a first trip to Israel by an Indian prime minister and did not go to Ramallah, the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority and a customary stop for leaders trying to maintain a blance in political ties. P.R. Kumarswamy, a leading Indian expert on ties with Israel at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, said a "major shift" on India policy had been evident since early this year when Palestinian President Mohmoud Abbas visited New Delhi. "with the Palestinian president standing by his side, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India support for Palestinian statehood but carefully avoided any direct reference to East Jerusalem," he said. for decades, India support for a Palestinian state was accompanied by an explicit reference to East Jerusalem being the Palestinian capital. But Delhi has moved to a more balanced position, refusing to take sides in an explosive dispute, he said. During the meeting last week, the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Somalia and Palestinian Authority spoke, the diplomatic source said. Besides the dozen envoys there were charges daffiness from several other countries in the region. They were expecting more from India perhaps to denounce Israel and the US a said formerinian ambassador to Jordan and Anil Trigunayat But would it really make a difference, adding one more voice?"