Indian Analyst: US Has Lost Credibility On Palestinian Issue

New Delhi, Aug 18, IRNA -- A senior Indian analyst of the international affairs believes that the US has lost its credibility as an honest broker in the Palestinian issue and is now isolated in the international community. In an exclusive interview with IRNA here on Monday, Dr. Rajiv Nayan, a senior research associate at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) at New Delhi, said, ˈCertainly, the US is not playing the role of an honest broker in the Palestine-Israel issue for long period and, therefore, the international community has already isolated the US on the issue.” Terming oil as the main factor in determining the nature of the US policy towards West Asia, he said, ˈThe US domestic dynamic is the well known reason for Washington’s dishonesty in dealing with the Palestine-Israel issue. However, there is a strong section in the US that is dependent on the West Asian oil and it is deeply concerned over developments in the region.” “This section too wants resolution of the conflict. Some influential think tanks in the US also seem to be in favor of a peaceful resolution of the dispute,ˈ the seasoned analyst of the world affairs added. Expressing regret over the increasing civilian death toll due to the Zionist regime’s deadly attacks on the civilian areas in Gaza, Dr. Nayan said: “I think the real death toll will be confirmed in the process of time. Yet, there is no doubt that the entire conflict is unfortunate and tragic and the unprecedented scale of violence has killed many innocent civilians, including hundreds of children, women, the elderly and persons with disabilities.” “Both sides have been suffering from the attacks. The attacks came from all sides — air, sea and land. However, the use of airpower and tunnel has introduced new dimensions in the conflict.” Terming the resolution of the Palestine issue as a key for ensuring the stability in the Middle-East, Dr. Nayan said: The Israeli-Palestinian issue is very old and needs to be handled carefully and with utmost sensitivity. The issue holds the key to West Asia’s stability and prosperity.” “Both sides should maintain a ceasefire. Quite sadly, a ceasefire which may become a stepping stone towards peace and dialogue is broken,” he added. Referring to the condemnation of the Zionist regime’s brutal attacks on the civilians in Gaza by the UN Human Rights Council, Dr. Nayan said, ˈIn its Special Session on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution on 23rd July 2014, condemning the Israeli military operations in the occupied Palestinian territory.” “The language of the resolution was strong and threatened to call the Israeli military action in Gaza as an international crime,” he added. On India’s role in resolving the Palestine issue, Dr. Nayan said: “The Indian government has taken a very balanced position. Both Israelis and Palestinians are India’s friends. India voted for the 23 July 2014 resolution that condemned the Israeli military action.” Elaborating on the view of the Indian political class on the Palestine issue, he said, ˈA strong section of the Indian political class and the policy making community wanted India to support Israel against the Hamas violence. Many Indians who are otherwise sympathetic to the Palestinian cause wanted India to differentiate between Hamas and Palestinians.” “India has been playing an important role in the resolution of the conflict between Palestine and Israel. It may play a more active role, but for this, a number of conditions are to be met. These conditions include stopping violence, consent of both the parties to accept India’s role in resolving the dispute and the support of regional and global players,” Dr. Nayan added. Terming Iran and Saudi Arabia as the two main players in resolving the Palestine issue, he said, ˈFor sure, both Iran and Saudi Arabia can play a greater role in resolving the Palestine-Israel issue. Iran has come closer to the West in recent months and concluded a nuclear deal and Saudi Arabia has been close to the US for a long period and it is an important Sunni and Arab country. So, they can play a crucial role in resolving the Palestine-Israel issue.”/end