Opinion | India’s Balancing Act in the Israel-Palestine Conflict: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Proxy War

The Israel-Palestine conflict has been a longstanding and complex issue, with deep-seated historical, political, and religious roots. The recent tensions between Israel and Hamas have once again brought the conflict to the forefront, with the United States, the European Union, and other regional and global powers taking sides. In this context, India, as a major emerging power and a vocal advocate of peace and diplomacy, must tread carefully to avoid getting drawn into the proxy war.
The Israel-Palestine conflict has its origins in the 20th century, with the Zionist movement’s goal of establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine, then under Ottoman rule. The British Mandate of Palestine after World War I led to an influx of Jewish immigrants, which displaced the Arab population and created tensions that have persisted to this day. The conflict has led to numerous wars, including the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the 1967 Six-Day War, and the 1973 Yom Kippur War, with each side accusing the other of aggression and violations of human rights.
The current situation is no different, with ongoing military and economic support from the United States to Israel. Notably, President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017, the relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem, and the continuous controversy surrounding Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights, as well as incidents like the killing of Palestinians and Israeli forces storming Al-Aqsa mosque. Furthermore, there have been efforts to improve relations between Israel and Arab countries, particularly through Saudi-Israeli normalization talks, resulting in Hamas launching an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7th. This, in turn, has led to continuous Israeli bombings, escalating tensions between Israelis and Hamas, with the situation in Gaza being particularly dire
India’s Stance:
India has traditionally maintained a neutral but tilted towards palestaine stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, recognizing the aspirations of both sides for a sovereign and independent state. India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, was a vocal advocate of the Palestinian cause, and India has consistently called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict based on a two-state solution.
However, in recent years, India’s stance has come under scrutiny, with some critics accusing India of tilting towards Israel, citing strategic and economic interests, as well as Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Israel in 2017, and occasionally, India’s change in voting style at multilateral institutions such as the UNO. India’s expanding defense and trade relationships with Israel, exemplified by the $2.5 billion deal for the acquisition of Israeli missile defense systems in 2017, have raised eyebrows.
The Need for Conscious Neutrality:
In light of the current situation, it is more important than ever for India to maintain a conscious and strategic balance in the Israel-Palestine conflict. India must avoid taking sides, as this would not only damage its reputation as a champion of peace and diplomacy but also risk drawing it into the proxy war since India’s interests in the Middle East are not limited to one side or the other, and it has a stake in the stability and security of the region as a whole. India’s engagement with Israel, Palestine, and other regional powers must be guided by the principles of peace, justice, and human rights.
India must be mindful of the pitfalls of proxy war and the dangers of getting drawn into the conflict. Proxy wars are not only destructive but also have a tendency to escalate and spin out of control. India must avoid the temptation of using the conflict to further its own strategic interests or to score points against its rivals.
Conclusion:
The Israel-Palestine conflict is a complex and intractable issue, with deep-seated historical, political, and religious roots. India, as a major emerging power and a vocal advocate of peace and diplomacy, must tread carefully to avoid getting drawn into the proxy war. Conscious and strategic neutrality is the key to maintaining India’s reputation as a champion of peace and diplomacy, while also advancing its own interests in the region.

Abbas Ahmad Rather
PhD scholar in international Relations . Area of domain ( India and Middle East)
Abbasahmad059@gmail.com