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 favour of the UNGA resolution on Palestine, calling for an end to Israeli occupation

As for the Congress, the party starting from Nehru has consistently supported Palestine while adopting a more pragmatic approach toward Israel. Priyanka Gandhi’s moral stance on peace likely stems from this historical position as one of the principal legatees of the Congress and Nehruvian ideas. Gandhi had previously shared social media posts condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza, referring to them as a “horrific genocide.” Recently, Abed Elrazeg Abu Jazer, Charge D’Affaires at the Palestinian Embassy in India, met with Gandhi to congratulate her on her election victory in Wayanad, southern India. However, there is no reason to suggest that such symbolism and genuine support cannot coexist with a strategic appeal to her constituency—where a significant Muslim population supports Palestine—reflecting both ideological consistency and political calculation that addresses her moral convictions alongside voter concerns.?????

Second, the irony of coalition politics has manifested in the form of an incipient disjuncture, however small, in the Modi government’s embrace of Israel. For the first time, an oppositional voice has emerged from within the government regarding India’s engagement with Israel, a relationship that had previously been exclusively shaped by Modi during his two prior terms in office. It was evident in JD(U)’s support for voices against the Indian government’s supply of weapons to Israel. When a coalition of leaders from various political parties gathered with Mohammad Makram Balawi, the Secretary-General of the League of Parliamentarians for Al-Quds, a pro-Palestinian organization, to express solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Notably, the Janata Dal (United), a key ally in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), was part of this coalition. Alongside leaders from Congress, the Samajwadi Party (SP), and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), JD(U) condemned Israel’s actions as “Zionist aggression” and a “heinous genocide of the Palestinian people.

The JD(U) holds significant sway as a major member of the government coalition. Since Modi’s BJP lacks a sizable majority on its own, it must rely on the coalition of?the NDA to advance its goals. Modi has already signalled considerable openness to addressing criticism from coalition partners, as seen in the case of repealing the government’s attempt to bypass reservation policies in the recruitment of civil servants by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). In this instance, strong criticism from coalition partners prompted the Modi government to direct the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to cancel an advertisement issued by UPSC for the appointment of joint-secretary-level officers and other key positions through the lateral entry process.

In this context, JD(U)’s opposition to India supplying arms to Israel in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict could signal that coalition dynamics might influence India’s relations with Israel. Given JD(U)’s position within the NDA and its regional political context—where it seeks to maintain a secular image—there is a possibility that its support for Palestine could serve the party, given the strong emotional resonance the issue holds among Indian Muslims. This would provide JD(U.) with an opportunity to balance its Hindutva support. Reasonably, in this case, JD(U)’s pro-Palestinian stance could be said to have the potential to shape the future trajectory of Indo-Israel relations. However, this remains a speculative outcome, and further developments will be needed to fully assess the extent of JD(U)’s influence on the BJP’s Israel policy.

Disclaimer :-The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author's?and do not represent the views or positions of the institution.