Amid ongoing trouble between Israel and Palestine, Bharat reiterated its
support for a two-State solution to resolve the decades-old issue and bring permanent
peace to the troubled region.
The solution was also backed by Australia post a bilateral meeting
between foreign ministers S Jaishankar and Penny Wong, who said they held an
extensive talk on the West Asia crisis.
Jaishankar and Wong, who met in New Delhi for the 14th India-Australia
Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue, asserted that the two-State solution — a
recognised Palestinian State alongside Israel — was the way forward.
However, the two leaders condemned the horrific Hamas attack as an act of
terror and called for observance of international humanitarian law in Gaza.
The two foreign ministers highlighted three broad points in connection to
the ongoing developments in West Asia: there can be no compromise on terror;
there is an urgent need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza, which has been hit
hard by Israeli attacks; and there is the issue of rights and aspirations of
the Palestinian people.
Jaishankar insisted on a solution regarding the rights and future of the
Palestinians and said, “And that solution in our view, and in the view of many
countries, can only come from a two-State solution.”
Echoing similar views, the Australian foreign minister remarked, “On the
aspirations of the Palestinian people, I think what this shows us is that we do
need a political solution. We do need to get to a point where we see both
Israeli and Palestinian peoples living in peace and security behind
international borders. And that progress to a two-State solution is required.”
The Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue was held a day after the 2nd
India and Australia 2+2 dialogue between the defence and foreign ministers of
the two countries.
Describing the situation in West Asia as complex and challenging, Jaishankar
stated, “Today the consideration of the situation in West Asia is if you have
these three broad sets of issues (terrorism, humanitarian crisis and future of
Palestinians) …we have to find a way by which all of them are addressed.”
Wong described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as dire and
catastrophic and commented, “We share the view that what occurred on October 7
was an act of terrorism and it needs to be unequivocally condemned. We share
the view that the hostages should be released and we repeat our call for that…”
“A two-State solution has been the consistent position of India and many
other countries. But the problem is how to get there and have a viable and
sovereign state of Palestine,” asserted Anil Trigunayat, a West Asian affairs
expert and a former ambassador.
Other key issues discussed by the two leaders included the India-Canada
row; peace, prosperity and security in the Indo-Pacific region, and the way
forward for the Quad grouping that includes US and Japan.
“We discussed issues between India and Canada. Australia has a good,
strong and close relationship with both of us. I felt it was important that
Australia get our perspective on the issue. The key issue really is the space
given to radicalism and extremism in Canada,” Jaishankar added.
The next Quad meeting is scheduled for early next year, he said.
At the 2+2 dialogue on Monday, the talks centered around deepening
military cooperation in critical areas including anti-submarine warfare and
air-to-air refuelling, security in the vast Indo-Pacific region amid China’s growing
influence, hydrography cooperation and strengthening ties in sectors such as
critical minerals, space, education, and science and technology.
Besides, the two sides discussed pressing geopolitical issues, including
the crisis in West Asia and the war in Ukraine.
NE Watch Desk
