India stays out of joint statement criticising Israel’s West Bank plans

India stayed out of a joint assertion issued by 85 international locations on the United Nations, criticising Israel’s latest plans to tighten control of West Bank territory.

The assertion was endorsed by the League of Arab States; the European Union; BRICS founder members Russia, China, Brazil, and South Africa; India’s Quad companions Australia and Japan; and neighbouring international locations, together with Bangladesh, the Maldives, Mauritius, and Pakistan. It got here simply forward of a UN assembly on the difficulty and the U.S.-led Board of Peace assembly in Washington on Thursday.

India’s choice is a departure from earlier positions, particularly its vote at the UN in October 2025 criticising Israel’s unlawful annexation of Palestinian territory, and the Delhi Declaration on January 31, 2026 that supported a Palestinian state based mostly on “1967 borders”.

The Exterior Affairs Ministry declined to touch upon the explanations for India’s stance.

Greater than a coverage shift, the flip-flop and the choices to avoid each the joint assertion and the Board of Peace conferences are seen as linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming go to to Israel on February 25-26, observers say.

The joint assertion was issued at a “stakeout” on Tuesday, and it was learn out by the Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, flanked by diplomats from dozens of nations that co-signed the doc.

“We strongly condemn unilateral Israeli selections and measures aimed toward increasing Israel’s illegal presence within the West Financial institution,” Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour mentioned.

“We underline on this regard our sturdy opposition to any type of annexation,” Mr. Mansour mentioned, including that the assertion rejected all measures “aimed toward altering the demographic composition, character and standing of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, together with East Jerusalem”.

Over the previous few months, following the ceasefire in Gaza, the Israeli Knesset has handed numerous plans to tighten its management over land within the Palestinian West Financial institution’s “A” and “B” Areas, which have been administered by the Palestinian Authority because the Oslo Accords (1993-1995). Among the many measures are the removing of restrictions on the acquisition of land by outsiders and the checking of documentation for these at present dwelling on the land, which is seen as a precursor to occupying and annexing the territory, as Israeli settlers have finished elsewhere.

“Such measures violate worldwide legislation, undermine the continued efforts for peace and stability within the area, run counter to the Complete Plan and jeopardise the prospect of reaching a peace settlement ending the battle,” the assertion mentioned.

India’s refusal to affix the assertion signed by many important states was criticised by diplomats on social media. Former Ambassador to Iran Okay.C. Singh referred to as it “regrettable that India has chosen Israeli nook so blatantly” and questioned whether or not the transfer was additionally linked to assist India’s ties with the U.S.

“Strategic autonomy was meant to develop India’s selections, not shrink its ethical vocabulary. If autonomy turns into avoidance of normative positions altogether, it begins wanting much less like independence and extra like hedging,” wrote former Overseas Secretary Nirupama Menon Rao, referring to India’s regular positions on the Israel-Palestine battle.

On January 31, Exterior Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had hosted a gathering of the League of Arab States and met Palestinian Overseas Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin. It’s unclear whether or not Mr. Jaishankar mentioned Mr. Modi’s upcoming go to to Israel, his first since July 2017, and whether or not Mr. Modi was additionally planning a visit to Palestine subsequently as he had in February 2018.

The go to to Israel has been beneath dialogue for some weeks and comes after Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postpone his go to to India final November, reportedly for safety causes. Mr. Modi’s journey to Israel may also come weeks after the discharge of the “Epstein information” within the U.S., the place the late American investor and convicted intercourse offender Jeffery Epstein had claimed in correspondence with a Qatari interlocutor that Mr. Modi “danced and sang” on the behest of U.S. President Donald Trump (in his earlier tenure), an allegation the Exterior Affairs Ministry denied strongly.