New Delhi: After Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reached a deal to normalise relations, India on Friday welcomed the announcement between the two countries.
Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that India “has consistently supported peace, stability and development in West Asia which is its extended neighbourbood.”
“In that context we welcome the full normalization of ties between the UAE and Israel. Both nations are strategic partners of India,” he said.
Earlier in the morning UAE foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed called external affairs minister S Jaishankar and discussed the pact.
“Deeply appreciate the call today from FM HH @ABZayed of UAE. Discussed the full normalisation of relations between UAE and Israel announced yesterday (Thursday),” Mr Jaishankar said in a tweet.
The deal is seen as brought together by US President Donald Trump and under its terms, Israel has agreed to suspend its planned annexation of areas of the occupied West Bank.
After the announcement, the UAE said it would remain a strong supporter of the Palestinian people, who want an independent state in the occupied West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.
Mr Srivastava reiterated India’s support to the Palestinian cause and said, “India will continue its traditional support to the Palestinian cause. We hope to see the early resumption of direct negotiations to find an acceptable two state solution.”
Israel had signed peace agreements with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994.
But the UAE, along with most other Arab nations, did not recognise Israel and had no formal diplomatic or economic relations with it until now.
It becomes the first Gulf Arab country to reach such a deal with the Jewish state.
