PM Modi hopes for early resumption of Israel-Palestine talks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hoped for early resumption of dialogue between the Palestinian and Israeli sides to move towards finding a comprehensive negotiated resolution as he reaffirmed India's steadfast support for the Palestinian cause.

In a message on the occasion of the UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, he also said that India hopes for early realisation of a sovereign, independent, united and viable Palestine co-existing peacefully with Israel.

"India hopes for early resumption of dialogue between the Palestinian and Israeli sides to move towards finding a comprehensive negotiated resolution," Modi said.

India believes in a two-state solution in which both Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist peacefully.

The two-state solution envisions independent Israeli and Palestinian states coexisting side by side peacefully. The Palestinians see east Jerusalem as their future capital.

Every year after 1979, November 29 is celebrated as International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. A special meeting is held at the UN headquarters here.

India is an active development partner of Palestine, engaged in extending technical and financial assistance to improve the lives of the Palestinian people, he said.

"We will continue to support the development and nation building efforts of Palestine. To this effect, India has increased training slots for Palestine under our flagship Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme from 100 to 150 annual slots," Modi said.

"Separately, educational scholarships have also been doubled in order to contribute to human resource development of Palestine," he added.