NEW DELHI, 28 July 2006 — India’s prime minister condemned yesterday in the “strongest possible terms” Israel’s offensive against Lebanon and called for an immediate cease-fire in the region. “We are condemning in the strongest possible terms the disproportionate reaction by Israel,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Parliament. Manmohan was referring to the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah that triggered Israel’s deadliest offensive in Lebanon in a decade.
The Indian prime minister also condemned the abduction of the two soldiers by Hezbollah. But “the virtual destruction of a country that has been painfully rebuilt after two decades of civil war can hardly be countenanced by any civilized state,” he said. “We have particularly expressed concern that the actions of the Israeli defense forces have resulted in the killing and suffering of innocent civilians including women and children,” he said.
Manmohan called for an “immediate cease-fire so that the destruction of Lebanon is ended and humanitarian assistance can be provided” and condemned Tuesday’s killing of four UN observers in an Israeli attack on a UN post in Lebanon. India was “seriously concerned about the escalation of the conflict” affecting West Asia and wanted a “long-term solution that will address the legitimate concerns of all parties in the region,” Manmohan said. In response to the Israeli bombardment, Hezbollah has been firing rockets on Israeli cities.
After decades of cold relations as well as Indian support for the Palestinian movement, India and Israel established diplomatic ties in 1992. Manmohan’s statements came after the Communist allies of the ruling Congress-led coalition criticized the government for its lack of response to Israel’s bombardment and raids on Lebanon. The Communist Party of India leader described the Israeli bombardment as “a full-scale assault” in “brazen violation of international law.”
Manmohan also criticized Israel for the arrest and continuing detention of Palestinian ministers. “There can be no justification whatsoever for taking such action against the duly-elected representatives of the Palestinian people,” he said. He said there must be an attempt to find a long-term solution that involved and addressed the legitimate concerns of all parties in the region leading to a comprehensive and negotiated solution.
“West Asia is our extended neighborhood and troubles in that region affect our security and our vital interests,” he said. He said India had decided to contribute 100 million rupees ($2.2 million) for humanitarian and relief efforts following an appeal from the Lebanese government.
He also said that of the estimated 12,000 Indian nationals living and working in Lebanon, 1,687 had been rescued by Indian warships along with 183 citizens of Sri Lanka, Nepal and Lebanon.
He said large numbers of Indians had not expressed desire to leave Lebanon. “Some of them appear to have decided to stay back, others may have been unable to reach Beirut.”
