India / India gives reply to palestine on its objection to abstain from voting on israel in united nations

India has given its reply to Palestine for abstaining from voting against Israel in the United Nations Human Rights Council. The Ministry of External Affairs has said that it has stayed away from such resolutions against any one country in the past. Responding to Palestine Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, the ministry said that India, in a way, has been working on the rule that it will abstain from voting by the UNHRC against any one country. The example of India's absence from the voting against Sri Lanka has also been given on this issue.

Last week, a resolution was presented to the UNHRC calling the attacks by Israel in the Gaza Strip a violation of human rights. 14 countries were absent from this vote, one of which was India. India did not comment on the move, but diplomatic experts said it amounted to supporting Israel. Of the 47-member committee, 24 voted against the Jewish state in support of the resolution brought against Israel in the United Nations. Apart from this, 9 members supported Israel and 14 countries including India stayed away from this vote.

Apart from India, countries that stayed away from voting on Israel included Italy, Denmark, Japan, France, South Korea, Ukraine, Nepal. Palestine had expressed displeasure over India's attitude for not voting on the resolution and its foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki wrote a letter. Maliki called on External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that India has missed a big opportunity by abstaining from voting on the decisive and important resolution brought for investigation against Israel. The Palestinian Foreign Minister had said that by not voting in the resolution on Israel, India has lost an opportunity to move on the path of accountability, peace and justice.