Two-state solution and beyond: India's vision for lasting peace in West Asia

India’s approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict is a reflection of its broader foreign policy stance, which seeks to balance historical values with emerging geopolitical realities. While maintaining its longstanding support for Palestinian self-determination, India has also cultivated deepening ties with Israel, especially in defence, technology, and trade.

This dual commitment represents the complexity of India’s diplomatic posture—a balancing act that seeks to navigate the longstanding regional conflict while safeguarding its national interests.

The question of lasting peace in the Middle East remains as pressing as ever, and India’s vision for a two-state solution provides a nuanced approach to this deeply entrenched geopolitical struggle.

India’s Diplomatic Evolution

India’s position on the Israel-Palestine conflict is rooted in its nationalist struggle and its historical stance towards Jewish political aspirations in Palestine. During the early years of India’s independence, the leadership under Mahatma Gandhi was largely critical of the idea of a Jewish state in Palestine, seeing it through the lens of colonial oppression and imperial interests.

Gandhi’s views reflected a strong belief in nonviolent resistance and peaceful coexistence, even in the face of ideological and political divisions. His commitment to nonviolence in global conflicts—most notably, his calls for peaceful resistance against Adolf Hitler during World War II—shaped India’s broader ethical framework in foreign diplomacy.

India’s early stance on the Israel-Palestine issue, under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, reflected a cautious approach. In the wake of Israel’s formation in 1948, India, like many newly independent nations, chose to maintain neutrality, distancing itself from both Israel and Palestine. While Prime Minister Nehru recognised the geopolitical significance of Israel, India refrained from extending formal recognition, largely due to its support for Palestinian Arab claims to the land. In 1952, Nehru articulated a position of supporting Palestinian rights while also offering assurances of normalised relations with Israel—without, however, formalising diplomatic recognition; this was the period of informal recognition.

This reluctance to recognise Israel persisted until the early 1990s, when Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao reversed the policy and established full diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992, signalling a shift toward more pragmatic, strategic engagement. This marked a major turning point in India’s foreign policy, as it acknowledged the growing significance of Israel, particularly in terms of security, technology, and defence cooperation.

Two-State Solution: India’s Consistent Advocacy

Despite its evolving relationship with Israel, India has consistently supported the idea of a two-state solution, where both Israel and Palestine coexist peacefully within recognised borders. This policy remains central to India’s vision of lasting peace in the region. India’s support for Palestinian self-determination has been a cornerstone of its foreign policy for decades. In line with this, India has consistently advocated for a negotiated settlement, underlining the importance of dialogue between the two parties and the need for an international framework that respects both Palestinian and Israeli rights.

India’s commitment to the two-state solution was underscored in recent diplomatic actions, such as its humanitarian contributions to Palestine. In 2024, India made a significant contribution of $2.5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This gesture exemplifies India’s dedication to Palestinian welfare and its moral support for the Palestinian cause. India’s contribution not only highlights its role as a humanitarian actor in the region but also serves as a testament to its continued advocacy for Palestinian rights, even as its relations with Israel have deepened.

Additionally, India has played an active role in addressing the humanitarian needs of Palestinians, particularly in times of crisis. In response to the ongoing conflict, India has sent shipments of medical supplies, including essential medicines and anti-cancer drugs, to Palestine. These actions, though humanitarian, align with India’s longstanding position on the Israel-Palestine issue: a commitment to Palestinian welfare coupled with a recognition of Israel’s security concerns.

Strategic Diplomacy

While India has remained firm in its support for the two-state solution, it has also cultivated a strong strategic relationship with Israel, especially in the domains of defence, intelligence, and technology. India’s defence cooperation with Israel has significantly expanded over the years, with Israel becoming one of India’s largest arms suppliers. The two countries have also deepened ties in sectors such as cybersecurity, agriculture, and space technology.

In recent years, India’s diplomatic manoeuvring has reflected this complex balancing act. In September 2024, India abstained from voting on a United Nations General Assembly resolution that called for the end of Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank within one year.

This abstention signalled India’s careful positioning, acknowledging the importance of its growing defence and trade relationship with Israel while still maintaining its historical support for Palestinian sovereignty.

This nuanced stance underscores India’s pragmatic approach to foreign policy: it seeks to safeguard its national interests and security while adhering to its moral commitments.

India’s abstention was also an illustration of its desire to maintain a position of diplomatic flexibility, where it does not alienate one side at the expense of the other. It represents India’s approach of seeking constructive engagement with both Israel and Palestine, ensuring that its interests and ethical considerations are balanced in a highly polarised geopolitical context.

Gandhian Legacy

India’s approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict is deeply informed by the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi’s principles of nonviolence and dialogue remain central to India’s diplomatic approach, particularly in the context of seemingly intractable conflicts.

Gandhi’s views on the Israel-Palestine issue were complex; while he was critical of the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine, he advocated for peaceful coexistence and nonviolent resistance as tools for resolving conflicts. This ideological framework continues to shape India’s diplomatic approach today.

Gandhi’s call for nonviolent resistance in the face of aggression was not a call for passivity but a belief in the transformative power of dialogue, empathy, and peaceful engagement. His approach was not about rigidly adhering to one side of a conflict but about fostering an environment where dialogue could flourish. In the context of the Israel-Palestine issue, India continues to hold firm to these principles. While it supports Palestinian self-determination, it also advocates for peaceful coexistence and dialogue between Israel and Palestine.

Challenges and Prospects for Peace

The two-state solution remains a central element of India’s policy on the Israel-Palestine conflict, yet its realisation faces significant challenges. Expanding Israeli settlements, the fragmentation of Palestinian leadership, and entrenched political divisions have undermined the feasibility of this solution. As scholars like Padraig O’Malley argue, the “facts on the ground” make it increasingly difficult to achieve a lasting peace. Nevertheless, India remains a staunch advocate for a negotiated settlement that upholds the rights of both Palestinians and Israelis.

India’s approach is rooted in its commitment to multilateral diplomacy and fairness, emphasising that peace must be achieved through dialogue and recognition of both peoples’ rights. While India continues to support Palestinian self-determination, its growing strategic partnership with Israel in defence and technology reflects the pragmatic realities of modern geopolitics. India navigates this complex relationship by promoting balanced engagement and maintaining its historical support for Palestine while strengthening ties with Israel.

Beyond the two-state solution, India envisions a Middle East where all nations coexist peacefully. Influenced by Gandhian principles of nonviolence and justice, India’s approach transcends territorial disputes, focusing on fostering long-term cooperation and mutual recognition. Its efforts in providing humanitarian aid to Palestine reinforce its commitment to alleviating suffering and contributing to regional stability.

India’s policy, shaped by its history of nonalignment, positions it as a unique actor in the region, able to engage with both Israel and Arab nations constructively. By promoting peacebuilding and regional cooperation, India remains an advocate for lasting peace, offering a pragmatic, ethical framework for resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict in a complex geopolitical landscape.

Amal Chandra is an author, political analyst and columnist. Prashanto Bagchi is an International Relations scholar at the JNU, New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.