Israel Hayom: Palestinians Lose India.. and Israel Strengthens Its Presence in New Delhi

Tel Aviv - Afaq News - The newspaper "Israel Hayom" reported that relations between Israel and India have witnessed significant development in recent years, coinciding with the decline of Palestinian presence in the Indian political scene, considering that Palestinians are trying to rebuild their presence in India and regain part of their historical relationship with it.

The newspaper pointed out that the Battle of Haifa in 1918, in which Indian soldiers and cavalry participated alongside British forces against the Ottoman army, still holds symbolic significance in India, noting that the Indian army commemorates the battle annually.

According to the report, the commemoration of the participation of Indian soldiers in the Battle of Haifa has turned into one of the symbols used to highlight the relations between India and Israel, at a time when relations between the two countries have expanded significantly in political, security, and economic fields.

"Israel Hayom" noted that India has historically been one of the countries that showed support for the Palestinian cause, but Indian-Israeli relations have developed significantly since the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the two countries, leading to a broad partnership in several areas.

The report views this shift as presenting a challenge for Palestinians in how to maintain their presence and relationships within India, amid the growing Israeli-Indian relations.

In an attempt to address this decline, the report indicates Palestinian movements aimed at re-highlighting the historical and cultural ties between the Palestinian people and India, and benefiting from the relationships that have developed between the two sides over decades.

These developments come amid the continued strengthening of the partnership between New Delhi and Tel Aviv, while the Palestinian Authority seeks to maintain its political and diplomatic relations with India, which has always held an important position in Palestinian foreign policy.

The report from 'Israel Hayom' particularly focuses on the competition for political and symbolic influence in India, considering that the battle is no longer limited to diplomatic relations, but also includes history, symbols, and political memory that each side attempts to employ to enhance its presence.