President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine on Saturday expressed thanks for “the noble and dignified positions India has taken towards the Palestinians”.

Speaking after bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ramallah’s Presidential compound, Mr Abbas said, “I would like to reaffirm our commitment to political actions to meet our national goals of freedom and independence, according to the two-state solution on the 1967 borders and the resolutions of the international legitimacy. And Israel in peace and security with East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state.”

“Only diplomacy and farsightedness can set free from violence and baggage of the past. We know it is not easy but we need to keep trying as a lot is at stake,” Mr Modi said.

Great standing

“We rely on India’s role as an international voice of great standing and weight through its historical role in the Non-Aligned Movement and in all international forum and its increasingly growing power on the strategic and economic levels, in a way that is conducive to just and desired peace in our region,” he added.

After visiting the Yasser Arafat mausoleum, Mr. Modi was offered a red carpet welcome by President Mahmoud Abbas.

Besides the Palestinian leadership and officials, a small group of religious leaders and representatives of the Indian community in Jerusalem were also present at Muqa’ata. Immediately after the bilateral discussions and the signing of the MoUs, Mr. Modi left for Amman from where he took a flight to the UAE.