New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday alleged that Israel is advancing its vision of a “Greater Israel” under the shadow of the West Asia war, steadily eroding any hope for a Palestinian state, and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of lacking the courage to oppose Israel’s actions in the occupied West Bank.
In a statement, Congress general secretary and communications in‑charge Jairam Ramesh claimed Israel is using the ongoing conflict as cover to deepen its hold over Palestinian territories and consolidate its occupation of the West Bank.
“In the past four weeks, while the world’s gaze has been on the Strait of Hormuz and energy infrastructure in the Gulf countries, Israel has (i) continued its brutalities on the people of Gaza; (ii) begun operations to create a large buffer zone for itself in southern Lebanon; and (iii) taken decisive steps to convert its annexation of the West Bank to firm occupation,” Ramesh said on X.
He added that the ongoing West Asia war is being used by Israel “to move ahead on its vision of Greater Israel and also finishing off any hope for a Palestinian state.”
Ramesh pointed to the timing of Modi’s recent visit to Israel, asserting that “the US‑Israel bombardment of Iran began just two days after Mr Modi left Israel.”
He claimed that “what is not realised is that just a few days before he arrived there, the Israeli cabinet had approved land registration in roughly half of the occupied West Bank for the first time since 1967.”
According to the Congress leader, this land‑registration move would lead to the dispossession of lakhs of Palestinians, yet Modi has refrained from speaking out. “But Mr Modi does not have the courage to raise his voice and speak truth to his good friend Benjamin Netanyahu,” Ramesh said.
Ramesh also reiterated earlier remarks that Israel’s dispossession and displacement of thousands of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have intensified and drawn worldwide condemnation.
“Israel’s attacks on civilians in Gaza continue mercilessly,” he had said.
