Palestine President gives India a miss
India enjoys close defence ties with Israel and there are reports that PM Narendra Modi may visit Israel in June or July this year.
New Delhi: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ visit to Pakistan followed by a scheduled visit to Bangladesh has triggered speculation on why he did not visit New Delhi but India on Thursday expressed confidence that President Abbas would visit New Delhi sometime this year. Speculation is rife whether Palestine is miffed with India’s close ties with Israel during the current tenure of the Modi Government. Just last year in November, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin had visited New Delhi.
India enjoys close defence ties with Israel and there are reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may visit Israel in June or July this year. In response to queries, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Vikas Swarup however told reporters that it was not mandatory that a foreign dignitary should visit India if he is visiting a neighbouring country.