Indian premier exhorts Israel and Palestine to resume talks

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee exhorted Israel and Palestine to resume immediate negotiations and break the cycle of violence even as New Delhi Wednesday strongly condemned the Israeli air attacks near Yasser Arafat's office as "completely unjustified."

The latest Israeli strikes drew sharp criticism with Federal External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh declaring in the Lok Sabha, Lower House of Parliament, that India can never support an attack on the sovereignty of Palestine and nothing should be done to undermine Arafat's authority, reported the Indian news agency PTI. As a gesture of support to the Palestinian cause, the Government observed an International Day of Solidarity Wednesday and Vajpayee said a viable state of Palestine should be created alongside Israel. India fully supported all efforts to break the cycle of violence, bring about a ceasefire and to build mutual trust and confidence, Vajpayee said. Indian Junior Minister for External Affairs Omar Abdullah said at a function to mark the Solidarity Day that any alternative to Arafat and the Palestinian National Authority was fraught with dangers having serious implications for regional peace and security.

He strongly condemned the Israeli air attacks near Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's office and institutions and said there can be no justification for such attacks. Congress President Sonia Gandhi called for a halt to violence and resumption of the peace process while deploring the use of state violence against the people of Palestine. Responding to concerns of opposition members that the situation in West Asia was turning "explosive," Jaswant Singh said there is no change in India's position which has recognized the Palestinian authority.