India also through its diplomacy wants to demonstrate its balanced approach between the Arabs and the Israelis.
India reminded the visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that it had played an active role in supporting the efforts of the State of Palestine to secure full membership status at UNESCO.” We will continue to support Palestine’s bid for full and equal membership of the United Nations,” said Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh adding the India would contribute $ 10 million to Palestine’s budget for this year.
President Abbas inaugurated the new Palestinian Embassy building, which has been built with Indian support.
“The building is a symbol of the enduring friendship between our two countries and peoples,” Dr Singh said.
India and Palestine signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on setting up Centre of Excellence in ICT in Palestine, for providing technical and vocational education training equipment and services for Vocational Training Centres in Palestine and for construction and equipping of Jawaharlal Nehru Secondary School for Girls in Asera Al Shamalyeh and Jawaharlal Nehru Secondary School for Boys in Abu Dees.
Under the scheme for setting up of Centres of Excellence in IT, professionals from Palestine will also be given a higher-level training in India in the field of ICT who will then impart training to Palestinians making the ICT centre self reliant.
Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), a premier R&D organization of the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) under the Indian Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, will be the implementing agency for this project.
Under the scheme for technical and vocational education training, India will provide equipment for VTCs in the existing Palestinian infrastructure. This proposal has been considered for capacity building of youth and women of Palestine by providing machinery and technical expertise for vocational training centres in Palestine.
Identified trainers from Palestine will be given necessary training in India so that they are able to train the local youth and women in Palestine.
This Project will be implemented by HMT International Ltd., an Indian public sector company under the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises.
As for the construction and Equipping of Jawaharlal Nehru Secondary School for Girls in Asera Al Shamalyeh and Jawaharlal Nehru Secondary School for Boys in Abu Dees, the estimated cost of the project for two schools is $ 1.8 million.
These two schools will cater to educational needs of about 800 students in the Palestinian districts of Asera Al Shamalyeh, Abu Dees and neighbouring villages.
The school in Asera Al Shamalyeh will have a constructed area of 1900 sq.m. with 12 class rooms and other facilities; Abu Dees School will be constructed in an area of 1700 sq.m. with 10 classrooms and other facilities.
Briefing the mediapersons after delegation level talks with the Palestinian President, the Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh said : “Support for the Palestinian cause has been a cornerstone of India’s foreign policy. During our meeting, I reiterated India’s firm support for the struggle of the Palestinian people to achieve a sovereign, independent, viable and united state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, living within secure and recognized borders, side by side and at peace with Israel. “
Dr Singh also said that India had played an active role in supporting the efforts of the State of Palestine to secure full membership status at UNESCO.” We will continue to support Palestine’s bid for full and equal membership of the United Nations,” he said.
The Indian Prime Minister also said “We also look forward to early resumption of peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis leading to a comprehensive resolution between the two sides.”
The Palestinian President expressed concern over Israel’s aggressive approach in settlement of Jewish population on Palestinian land, violence and killing of civilian population. More than 5,000 Palestinians were languishing in prisons since 1995.