Congress Hits Modi Over Israel Policy Ahead of Vote

The Congress party on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of pursuing a foreign policy that prioritizes Israel over Indian interests, sharpening a political attack ahead of general elections expected by May.

A statement from Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Modi's "blind devotion" to Israel had damaged India's standing in the Middle East and compromised its traditional ties with Palestinian authorities. The party did not cite specific policy changes or diplomatic incidents to support the claim.

The criticism comes as Israel's military operation in Gaza enters a third month. India abstained from a United Nations General Assembly resolution in December calling for an immediate ceasefire, breaking with most non-aligned nations and drawing domestic criticism from opposition parties.

Ramesh's statement did not name any particular Israeli or Indian policy. It framed the attack around the broader election theme that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has abandoned India's historical foreign-policy independence. India recognized Israel in 1950 but maintained cool relations for decades, warming significantly under Modi, who visited Tel Aviv in 2017 – the first Indian premier to do so.

Congress has struggled to land foreign-policy attacks on Modi during his decade in power. The party's 2024 election manifesto, released last week, calls for a "balanced" approach to Israel-Palestine but offers no specific proposals.

The government has not responded to Ramesh's remarks. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, at a press conference last week, defended India's Gaza vote as consistent with its position that both Israel's security and Palestinian statehood matter.

Election campaigning is expected to intensify through March, with foreign-policy disagreements likely to surface again. Opinion polls show Modi's party leading nationally, though the opposition has gained ground on economic issues.