India gave USD 72.1 million to Palestine as project assistance MEA

[Hitman]

India has given USD 72.1 million to Palestine in a bid to aid developing projects through capacity building and budgetary support, the Lok Sabha was told Wednesday.

Minister of State in the External Affairs Ministry V K Singh told the Lower House that the major projects being undertaken at present in Palestine include setting up of the Institute of Diplomacy, India-Palestine technology park, hospital, women empowerment center, printing press and schools.

"We have also extended a budgetary support of USD 30 million. India has also been contributing annually to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The contribution has been enhanced from USD 1.25 million to USD 5 million per annum from 2018," Singh said in a written response.

India has extended project assistance to Palestine to the the tune of nearly USD 72.1 million, which includes the USD 42.1 million announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stand-alone visit in February last year.

"We continue to maintain our relationship with Palestine through regular high-level exchanges to convey our steadfast political support to the Palestinian cause. We are also extending financial support for Palestinian nation-building through capacity building, project assistance and budgetary support," he said.

In September 2017, India had supported Palestine's bid of membership to the Interpol.

"We supported the resolution on the 'Status of Jerusalem' in the UN General Assembly on December 21, 2017. Recently, India voted in favour of a resolution on 'Protection of the Palestinian civilian Population' in the UNGA on June 13, 2018 as well as on the resolution on 'Economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian territory'," he said.

The high-level meetings helped diversify the bilateral engagement with Palestine into several areas that include education, health, sports, agriculture, information and communication technology, youth affairs and security, the minister of state added.

To a question whether there is any proposal to send a delegation to Palestine in the coming months, Singh replied "no".

Replying to a separate question on the UK's announcement on immigration rules, Singh said the UK High Commission in New Delhi, in its note verbale dated July 9 to the MEA, stated that Indian students would face no difference in procedures compared to the previous years.

Link: https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2019/01/02/des37-lsq-mea-palestine.html

 

[Pakistanian]

money stolen from kashmir

 

[Swashbuckler]

money stolen from kashmir

New Delhi spends much more money on Kahmir than the tax collected. Just saying that your statement is wrong.

 

[Swashbuckler]

** Sorry "Kashmir"

 

[Pakistanian]

New Delhi spends much more money on Kahmir than the tax collected. Just saying that your statement is wrong.

Cause the resources stolen from it isn't taxed like water and power.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Is the OP just sharing news or is there a point of discussion here? India has supported Palestine historically but lets not forget it also a close of ally of those who oppress the Palestinians. India has 200 million Muslims so it's probably why it supports Palestinians. Modi and the Hindu extemits in power doesn't really have any love for Palestinians or their cause.

 

[Itachi]

Cause the resources stolen from it isn't taxed like water and power.

Which specific resources we are talking about here.

 

[troodon]

money stolen from kashmir

Pak does not steal from POK?

Last I heard, Indian Kashmir is part of India. You cannot steal from your own house.

 

[gazza619]

I can never understand if millions in a country are extremetely poor, are dieing of hunger or no shelter, how can you justify giving away so much money away? Surely your own people should be the first priority?

This applies to all countries not just India.

 

[troodon]

I can never understand if millions in a country are extremetely poor, are dieing of hunger or no shelter, how can you justify giving away so much money away? Surely your own people should be the first priority?

This applies to all countries not just India.

Modi Govt loves Muslims. Especially the Arab ones.

 

[Slog]

I can never understand if millions in a country are extremetely poor, are dieing of hunger or no shelter, how can you justify giving away so much money away? Surely your own people should be the first priority?

This applies to all countries not just India.

this is peanuts in relative terms. Also its strategic

why does canada, uk or usa give aid to other countries? do you think there are no people below the poverty line lacking food and shelter in these countries? Why doesnt their country give that money to them instead of countries in different continents?

 

[gazza619]

this is peanuts in relative terms. Also its strategic

why does canada, uk or usa give aid to other countries? do you think there are no people below the poverty line lacking food and shelter in these countries? Why doesnt their country give that money to them instead of countries in different continents?

I think the extremely poor in Canada, UK & USA are nowhere near the proportion in India. What you call peanuts can save lives of thousands.

According to wikipedia 60% of India’s population in 2011 were below the poverty line. This amounted to 763 million. So in 2019 this could have potentially touched 1 billion, no?

Now compare that to extremely poor in UK, Canada and USA.
US: 13%
Canada: 14%
UK: 20%

Mind you the extremely poor of US, Canada and UK are still better off and are nothing compared to India. Majority of them still have shelter.

Not sure what strategic advantage would India gain by ignoring its own poor. Dont you see ignorance in the government’s stance?

 

[Mages]

India to host two-day meeting of Arab League

India will host foreign ministers of 22 Arab League nations in Delhi at a two-day meet from January 31 in the first such engagement in recent years with the grouping of West Asian and North African countries, and the State of Palestine. If Syria is admitted to the grouping in the intervening period it could be among the participants at the meet, said people aware of the matter.

They said that India’s initiative signals continuation of the Narendra Modi government’s efforts to boost ties ties with the Arab world even as it has separately stepped up engagement with Israel. Prominent items on the agenda of the meet are the prevailing conflict in West Asia, Palestine issue, counterterrorism, defence partnership, Indian energy interests and welfare of diaspora, said one of the persons, who did not wish to be identified.

Syria’s membership of the Arab League was suspended in 2011. But India, one of the five observer members of the grouping, maintained its diplomatic mission in Damascus and continued its counterterrorism cooperation and economic ties with the country. Syria, on its part, has been against a strong anti-India position on Kashmir in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Some other Arab League member states, which are also OIC members, have also favoured a similar position on the Kashmir iss ..

Since 2015, India has been engaging more intensely with the Arab World, with the Prime Minister and external affairs minister undertaking several visits to the region and hosting its leaders including the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at the 2017 Republic Day celebrations. Modi, preceded by the then President Pranab Mukherjee, also visited Palestine, the first Indian PM to do so.

While India de-hyphenated ties with Israel and the Arab World, with Modi becoming the first Indian PM to visit Israel and later hosting PM Benjamin Netanyahu within six months of his visit, the country also elevated ties with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Jordan to the next level. Modi’s recent meeting with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia led to a decision on the part of Saudi Arabia to scale up investments in India.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/india-to-host-two-day-meeting-of-arab-league/articleshow/67358688.cms

 

[hafeezrocks]

I think the extremely poor in Canada, UK & USA are nowhere near the proportion in India. What you call peanuts can save lives of thousands.

According to wikipedia 60% of India’s population in 2011 were below the poverty line. This amounted to 763 million. So in 2019 this could have potentially touched 1 billion, no?

Now compare that to extremely poor in UK, Canada and USA.
US: 13%
Canada: 14%
UK: 20%

Mind you the extremely poor of US, Canada and UK are still better off and are nothing compared to India. Majority of them still have shelter.

Not sure what strategic advantage would India gain by ignoring its own poor. Dont you see ignorance in the government’s stance?

Maybe India can use Palestine as a launchpad to conduct surgical strikes in Israel.

Agree with you, what a waste of money when you have majority of the people in the country failing to make ends meet. I think it also gives bragging rights to the well off Indians who can claim about their country being filthy rich and Shining to afford donating Millions to other countries. Nice PR exercise for the government.

 

[Swashbuckler]

It must have some political or geostrategic purpose, maybe a balancing act with the Muslim world now that Govt of India has given a new push towards ties with Israel. Also India traditionally has had strong links with a faction of Palestinians, especially with PLO and Fatah.

 

[Varun]

It must have some political or geostrategic purpose, maybe a balancing act with the Muslim world now that Govt of India has given a new push towards ties with Israel. Also India traditionally has had strong links with a faction of Palestinians, especially with PLO and Fatah.

There is zero geostrategic value. Nobody cares about Palestine except confused British Pakistanis. The Arabs will still sell us their oil. Indians will continue working in the Gulf.

Waste of money, much like that library in Afghanistan. We should pull the plug on Palestine pronto - they are going to liberate themselves based on their prophecy anyway, don't need us.

 

[Swashbuckler]

There is also the perception battle. If India seeks to play a bigger role in the global stage it has to take everyone along even if it doesn't willingly mean to. And these diplomatic gestures involve long term planning, I am sure there are qualified people taking care of our foreign relations.

 

[Varun]

There is also the perception battle. If India seeks to play a bigger role in the global stage it has to take everyone along even if it doesn't willingly mean to. And these diplomatic gestures involve long term planning, I am sure there are qualified people taking care of our foreign relations.

The allies to have in that part of the world are Israel, Saudi Arabia and Iran. I think we get along fine with all three of them, and each bilateral drags the sidekicks (Eg: UAE) along too.

Palestine are useless and dead weight. Nobody else cares for them and they have nothing to offer. Pigs will fly before they 'conquer' Israel, but if that's what they want to believe, leave them to it. Just keep our $ 72.1 million USD to ourselves please!

 

[jusarrived]

I think the extremely poor in Canada, UK & USA are nowhere near the proportion in India. What you call peanuts can save lives of thousands.

According to wikipedia 60% of India’s population in 2011 were below the poverty line. This amounted to 763 million. So in 2019 this could have potentially touched 1 billion, no?

Now compare that to extremely poor in UK, Canada and USA.
US: 13%
Canada: 14%
UK: 20%

Mind you the extremely poor of US, Canada and UK are still better off and are nothing compared to India. Majority of them still have shelter.

Not sure what strategic advantage would India gain by ignoring its own poor. Dont you see ignorance in the government’s stance?

Eliminating poverty will take years and money is not only the factor here ...cant stop spending on other necessary stuffs till then .