India’s indiscreet decision of voting against Trump’s Jerusalem Move

Trump’s decision of recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has opened a Pandora’s Box. The Arab League and Muslim countries denounced the move. Even American allies critically flayed Trump’s decision. While Trump maintained that the conflict surrounding Jerusalem must be resolved through negotiations between warring factions and retained the option of shifting American Embassy, his decision was marred by protests, rallies and sparked deadly violence. Palestine refused to accept American mediation in Israeli-Palestine conflict and called off talks with Mike Pence. Turkey and Egypt called upon the Muslim nations and Arab League to join hands in condemning Trump’s move.

Earlier this week, an urgent UNSC meeting was convened wherein Egypt put forth a resolution “calling upon all states to refrain from the establishment of diplomatic missions in the Holy City of Jerusalem”. For the first time in six years, US vetoed the move, while all the 14 members voted in favor. This clearly implied that even US allies, considered Jerusalem as the shared capital of Israel and Palestine. Isolated at the UNSC, US lashed out terming the proceedings “an insult” that “won’t be forgotten”. American government’s current stand is in sharp contrast to President Obama’s abstention when the US affirmed that East Jerusalem has no legal validity. Protesting US veto at the UNSC, Turkey and Yemen requested for an emergency UN General Assembly meeting calling for a vote to reject Trump’s Jerusalem move. Having suffered a defeat at the UNSC, Trump threatened countries to withhold aid, if they vote in favor of vote rejecting Trump’s decision of recognizing Jerusalem as capital of Israel.  In unequivocal terms, Trump warned, “Let them vote against us, we’ll save a lot. We don’t care. This isn’t where it used to be where they could vote against you and then you pay them hundreds of millions and nobody know what they are doing”. Invoking “the Uniting for Peace” procedure where General Assembly can make appropriate recommendations when UNSC fails to act, the tenth Emergency Special session was convened. The resolutions passed under this procedure are non-binding. India has voted in favor of the UN resolution calling US to roll back Trump’s move on Jerusalem. The resolution was passed with two-thirds majority with 127 countries including India voting in favor of the resolution. 35 countries abstained from voting, 21 countries including Ukraine didn’t vote at all. Mere nine countries-Guatemala, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Naura, Palau, Toga and Micronesia including the US and Israel voted against. Countries that abstained included- Argentina, Australia, Bhutan, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Mexico, Philippines, Poland, Rwanda, and Romania.

India’s vote at UNGA has come under serious scrutiny for various reasons. After Trump’s decision on Jerusalem, Middle East erupted into protests and India home to sizeable Muslim population maintained, “India’s position on Palestine is independent and consistent. It is shaped by our views and interests and not determined by any third party”. With India refusing to take sides, ambassadors of Arab countries sought clarification on Trump’s decision of recognizing Jerusalem as capital of Israel. India, one of the earliest champions of Palestinian cause but later pursued ties with Israel refrained from making any assurances. Though India recognized Israel in 1950, New Delhi established diplomatic relations in 1992. For long India reluctantly underwrote bilateral ties with Israel for the fear of irking Muslim countries. Modi’s stand-alone visit to Israel in July, the first ever by any Indian Prime Minister heralded a new beginning. He stayed at the King David’s Hotel in the West Jerusalem boosting Israel’s claims over Jerusalem. Earlier in May during Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas visit to India, Modi assured India’s support to Palestinian cause but carefully avoided any references to East Jerusalem. Indeed, India maintained a similar position at the Xiamen BRICS summit as well. But the Arab countries wary of Modi’s Hindutva proclivity believed NDA regime would favorably foster relations with Israel. In 2015, India abstained on a resolution at UNHRC, condemning Israel for the war crimes committed during 2014 Gaza conflict. Interestingly, on a resolution that undermined Jewish rights over the Temple Mount and the Western wall in April at UNESCO, India initially voted in favor of Israel in initial rounds but later abstained as a result Israel narrowly lost substantiating India’s vacillating position.

In the UNGA voting yesterday, subjugated by its cold war impasse, hamstrung by non-aligned compulsions, in line with Nehruvian doctrine India voted against Israel. Compulsive Nehruvites hailed India’s position for siding with the Muslim countries and repudiating US authority. While experts who lauded assertive Modi doctrine balked India’s move. Despite India’s unstinted support to Palestine and Muslim pandering, the later never supported New Delhi at the UN on Kashmir issue. On the other hand, Israel and Armenia always supported India on Kashmir issue. Succumbing to pompous ideological thoughts, apprehensive of economic turbulence since India interests are critically linked to Arab nations, India refrained from making rapprochements to Israel. But Israel helped India during the 1962, 1965, 1971 and 1991 wars. While arguments are afoot, India may have voted against UNGA resolution under strategic and diplomatic compulsions. India is now seriously betting on the Chabahar port to enhance its accessibility to Central Asian countries, Russia and Eurasia.  Iran is a bitter rival of Israel and India’s tacit approval of resolution is quite a balancing act.

Indeed, the countries which supported Trump’s decision are members of Compact of Free Association (COFA). US in 1986, signed an agreement with South Pacific Islands to provide economic aid and defence support in return US can use these islands for installing military bases. It must be noted of all the countries, Micronesia with dominant Judea-Christian tradition, has an unparalleled record of supporting Israel at UN. Members that abstained from voting included countries like Canada and Australia, who tried to delicate balance. Embittered by allies voting against Trump’s move at UNSC, America considered voting at UNGA as a criterion to gauge its global influence. Besides, just days ahead of UNGA meeting, US unveiled National Security Strategy which stated, “We will expand our defence and security cooperation with India, a major defence partner of the United States, and support India’s growing relationships throughout the region” and “we will seek to increase quadrilateral cooperation with Japan, Australia and India” and finally “we encourage India to increase its economic assistance in the region”. UNGA’s rejection of Trump’s decision is a huge setback for US. Evincing anger, Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to UN stated, “United States will remember this day. America will put embassy in Jerusalem. No vote in the United Nations will make any difference on that. But this vote will make difference on how Americans look at UN and on how we look at countries who disrespect us in the UN”. Though the resolution is non-binding support will have immense political gains. With Israel Prime Minister scheduled to visit between Jan 14-18, India is now hard pressed to defend its position.

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