Lok Sabha Question No. 3623 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-02
Subject: Delegation to Palestine
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: RANGASWAMY DHRUVANARAYANA

- (a) & (b) No.

(c) Support to Palestinian cause has always been on top of our foreign policy. We continue to maintain our relationship with Palestine through regular high-level exchanges to convey our steadfast political support to Palestinian cause. We are also extending financial support for Palestinian nation building through capacity building, project assistance and budgetary support.

In September 2017, India supported Palestine for membership of the Interpol. We supported the resolution on the 'Status of Jerusalem' in the UN General Assembly on 21 December, 2017. Recently, India voted in favour of a resolution on 'Protection of the Palestinian civilian Population' in UNGA on 13 June, 2018 as well as on resolution on 'Economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian territory.

For the first time in history, President and Prime Minister visited Palestine in the last four  years. President visited Palestine in October 2015 and Prime Minister visited on 10 February 2018. President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas visited India in May 2017. External Affairs   Minister   visited   Palestine   in   January   2016.   The   first   ever   Ministerial   level   Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) between India and Palestine was held in Ramallah in November 2016.   These   high-level   meetings   helped   to   diversify   our   bilateral   engagement   with Palestine into several areas that include Education, Health, Sports, Agriculture, Information & Communication Technology, Youth Affairs, Security, etc.

Our capacity building initiatives involves training of Palestinian nationals for long and short term courses in leading Indian educational institutions in sectors such as finance, management, rural development and information technology under  the Indian Technical and   Economic   Cooperation   (ITEC)   and   Indian   Council   for   Cultural   Relations   (ICCR) scholarship Programmes. During the visit to Palestine, Prime Minister announced doubling of ICCR scholarship for Palestinian students from 50 to 100. India and Palestine commenced annual youth exchange of 50 member youth delegation since May 2017, which has been enhanced from 50 to 100 from 2018 during the PM's visit.

So far, India has extended the project assistance to Palestine to the the tune of about US$  72.1   million   which   includes   the   announcement   of   US$   42.1   million   during   the

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3623

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.01.2019

## DELEGATION TO PALESTINE

## 3623. SHRI R. DHRUVA NARAYANA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is any proposal to send a delegation to Palestine in the coming months;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps being taken to maintain relationships with Palestine?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

standalone visit of PM to Palestine in February, 2018. The major projects being undertaken at   present   include   construction/   setting   up   of   Institute   of   Diplomacy,   India-Palestine Technology Park, Hospital, Women Empowerment Center, Printing Press and Schools in Palestine. We have also extended a budgetary support of US$ 30 million. India has also been  contributing   annually   to   United   Nations   Relief   and   Works   Agency   for   Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The contribution has been enhanced from US$ 1.25 million to US$ 5 million per annum from 2018.

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