Prime Minister’s message on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people

The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people gives us an opportunity to salute the indomitable spirit of the Palestinian people and to reaffirm our support for their just struggle for a sovereign, independent State of Palestine.

India welcomed the holding of peaceful, free and fair elections to the Palestinian legislative Council in January this year, which underlined the aspirations of the Palestinian people to govern themselves in a manner that would enable them to attain their socio-economic goals. Unfortunately recent events in which many innocent lives have been lost have affected not only the peace process but have also come in the way of the Palestinian people achieving their legitimate developmental goals.

We are deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis being faced by the people of the West Bank and Gaza. As a mark of India's deep commitment to helping the Palestinian people overcome these difficulties, we have extended humanitarian assistance in the form of medicines valued at US$ 2.5 million this year.

India is convinced that the tragic situation of the Palestinian people cannot be resolved by force but only through negotiations and dialogue.

I would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm India's consistent and unwavering support to the Palestinian people's struggle to achieve their legitimate rights and to a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region to be achieved through implementation of the Quartet "Road Map" that envisages a sovereign, independent, viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace with the State of Israel.

(Manmohan Singh)

New Delhi

November 21, 2006