Karat demands severing of military ties with Israel

New Delhi, Mar 5 (UNI) CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat today demanded severing of military and security ties with Israel as it has turned West Bank and Gaza into a prison for the Palestinian.

The CPI (M) leader claimed that he would try to build support of other parties on the issue as New Delhi's military and security ties with Tel Aviv was in violation of its historical support for Palestinian rights.

Mr Karat, whose CPI (M) supports the UPA government at the Centre, was addressing the media here with representatives of the All-India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO).

He claimed that India's military co-operation on weapons, which were used against the Palestinians stands in contradiction to New Delhi's commitment to support Palestinian rights and risked damaging its strategic relations with West Asia.

The AIPSO reminded the government that India had historically supported the right of Palestinian people to their own state.

He said India should have become a party in the launch of Israeli spy satellite TECSAR as it was capable on gathering intelligence on Iran.

This is not for the first time that CPI (M) or its leadership have demanded end of military ties with Israel over the Palestinian issue.

UNI NAB MS KN1726