Palestine's Mahmoud Abbas seeks India's role in peace process

PM Narendra Modi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas embrace after their joint press conference in Ramallah. Pic/AFP

PM Modi on Saturday met Mahmoud Abbas on a historic visit to Palestine during which the Palestinian President sought India's role in achieving a "just and desired peace" with Israel in accordance with the two-state solution. President Abbas received Modi, the first Indian Prime Minister to make an official visit to Palestine, in an official ceremony at the presidential compound. They discussed the full range of India-Palestine ties following which the two sides signed six agreements worth around $50 million.

At a joint press statement with Modi, President Abbas said, "We rely on India's role as an international voice of great standing and weigh through its historical role in the Non-Aligned Movement and in all international forum and its increasingly growing power on the strategic and economic levels, in a way that is conducive to just and desired peace in our region."

PM Modi assured President Abbas that India is committed to the Palestinian people's interests. "We hope for peace and stability in Palestine, we believe a permanent solution is possible with dialogue. Only diplomacy and farsightedness can set people free from violence and baggage of the past," Modi said. President Abbas also conferred the 'Grand Collar of the State of Palestine' on PM Modi, recognising his key contribution to promote ties between India and Palestine. The Grand Collar is Highest order given to foreign dignitaries - Kings, Heads of State/Government and people of similar rank.

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