Chronicle

Priyanka Gandhi’s ‘Palestine’ Bag: Reflections on Indian Politics and Israel Policy

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?-? ?Dr Muhsin P P

A bag carried by Priyanka Gandhi in Parliament placed her at the centre of a political debate on Israel-Gaza in the recent winter session of the Indian parliament. The bag, featuring the word ‘Palestine’ and a watermelon symbol, became a flashpoint, attracting sharp criticism from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its supporters. Watermelons are often used in Palestinian solidarity campaigns due to their red and green colors, which resemble the colors of Palestinian flag (red, green, white, and black). If anything, it underscored and reaffirmed the persistent relevance and continuity of the Palestine issue in Indian domestic politics. However, anyone truly interested in understanding the ongoing relevance of Palestine in domestic politics must consider the current political dynamics surrounding it. By examining the political dynamics surrounding the Palestine issue, two key insights emerge.

First, it outlines the political mobilization and the process by which political actions and ideologies gain acceptance and legitimacy in democratic politics. A political party’s position on Palestine can reveal its broader ideological inclinations and worldview. In this context, it ventures into the comparative realm of what each party represents. The BJP has long been pro-Israel, with its ideological alignment reflecting Zionist ethnic nationalism. Nonetheless, in recent years, under Modi’s leadership, India strategically decoupled its relations with Israel from the Israel-Palestine issue, adopting a more proactive stance towards strengthening ties with Israel. In 2017, Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel, a historic move that was reciprocated by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to Delhi in 2018. The rapport between Modi and Netanyahu was evident throughout these exchanges, signalling a deepening of bilateral relations.

However, the growing public support for Israel under Modi’s administration has led to clashes with domestic groups sympathetic to Palestine. Numerous arrests have been reported for individuals expressing support for Palestine often framed as necessary for national security and public order. Yet, while India’s foreign policy under the Modi government has become more pro-Israel, it has consistently upheld support for a Two-State Solution. It was only a couple of months ago that India voted in