A collective protest of various Left parties, including the CPI(M), CPI, CGPI, Forward Block, RSP, CPI(ML), SUCI-C, was held on January 15 against Netanyahu’s visit.

‘Go Back Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’ slogans echoed in New Delhi on January 15 as Left Parties organised a protest march against his visit to India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘ideological soulmate’ from Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, visited India from January 14. A collective protest by Left parties was held on January 15 against Netanyahu’s visit. CPI(M), CPI, CGPI, Forward Block, RSP, CPI (ML) Liberation, SUCI-C participated in the protest.

‘Prakash Karat, Polit Bureau Member of the CPI (M), D Raja from the CPI and leaders of the other Left parties and movements addressed the gathering.

“The coalition headed by Netanyahu is the most right-wing government that Israel has had. It consists of ultraright Jewish parties who openly advocate the expulsion of the Palestinian people from the occupied territories and treating the Arabs within the borders of Israel as second-class citizens. As far as the Left is concerned, we would be expressing protest against the Israeli government due to the policies of repression of the Palestinian people.” Prakash Karat said at the protest meeting.

The Netanyahu government has legalised the private lands expropriated from Palestinians. It has decided to allow a new settlement to be built in the West Bank after two decades while expanding existing settlements. All this is being done to prevent any possibility of an independent State of Palestine emerging.

“As the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel last year, Modi clearly signalled his support for the Israeli occupation by not visiting the Palestinian authority in the West Bank,” Karat said.

“Contrary to the BJP government’s pro-Israeli stance, India and its people have always stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people and opposed Israeli aggression. Netanyahu should know that his aggressive anti-Palestinian policies are opposed by the secular democratic-minded people of India,” the CPI(M)leader said.