Inexplicable: Chidambaram, India refuses to denounce Israel's ban on UN chief

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram criticized India's decision to abstain from signing a letter condemning Israel's recent move to ban UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres from entering Israeli territory. The letter, initiated by Chile and backed by 104 countries, including key European and African nations, condemned Israel's action, arguing that it undermines the United Nations' role in mediating global conflicts and delivering essential humanitarian aid.

Chidambaram expressed his disappointment on X (formerly Twitter), stating that India's decision broke ranks not only with its BRICS partners, Brazil and South Africa, but also with many countries of the Global South, including those in South Asia, West Asia, and Africa, which have traditionally shared cordial and strategic ties with India. He described India’s stance as "inexplicable" and called for a serious reassessment of the country's foreign policy, particularly when it comes to its positions on international human rights and diplomacy.

"The UN Secretary General's office is non-partisan, and the UN remains the only truly global platform for ventilating political differences. Israel was wrong to ban the UN chief, and India should have been among the first to oppose this unilateral and unjustified move," Chidambaram asserted. He emphasized that India’s abstention is part of a pattern of recent diplomatic decisions where the country has avoided condemning Israel, even in situations that attract widespread international criticism.

Israel's decision to ban Guterres from its territory came after Israeli officials, including Foreign Minister Israel Katz, accused the UN chief of failing to unequivocally condemn Iran's recent missile attacks on Israel. Katz also criticized Guterres for not strongly denouncing Hamas’s brutal attack on Israeli civilians on October 7, which left hundreds dead and led to escalations in the ongoing conflict. In a post on X, Katz stated, "Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran's heinous attack on Israel, as nearly every nation in the world has done, does not deserve to set foot on Israeli soil."

The Israeli government has long harbored grievances against the UN, accusing it of being heavily biased against Israel, particularly through its affiliated agencies, such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which Israel claims has ties to Hamas. At the United Nations General Assembly in September, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labeled the UN as an "anti-Semitic swamp," following a series of UN resolutions that called for a ceasefire in Gaza and condemned Israeli military operations. 

Chidambaram’s remarks highlighted how India’s current foreign policy, particularly its stance on Israel and Palestine, might be diverging from its traditional positions of non-alignment and commitment to global diplomacy. He suggested that India’s abstention could damage its reputation among developing nations and its broader image as a leader of the Global South. The Congress leader’s comments come at a time when India's foreign policy decisions are being closely scrutinized, especially as the country seeks to balance its deepening strategic ties with Israel while maintaining its long-standing relationships with Arab and Islamic nations. 

The letter of condemnation against Israel’s action, signed by 104 countries, reflects growing frustration within the international community over the treatment of the UN and its role in conflict mediation. Many fear that actions like banning the UN Secretary-General set dangerous precedents that could weaken the organization’s ability to intervene in critical situations and provide neutral assistance to populations in need. 

India’s abstention has also prompted debate within the country’s political circles, with critics arguing that India risks alienating its traditional allies and weakening its credibility as a voice for justice on the global stage. As tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, India’s diplomatic choices, particularly those related to its stance on Israel-Palestine, will likely continue to be a subject of intense discussion and analysis.