Undiplomatic & Distasteful: Anand Sharma on Israel Envoy’s Remark
The diplomatic row between India and Israel took a dramatic turn recently, with the Israeli Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, drawing ire from the Congress party. The controversy began when Azar made a remark directed at Priyanka Gandhi, the General Secretary of the Indian National Congress, during a press conference in New Delhi. The Ambassador described Priyanka’s statement on the Gaza crisis as “what is shameful is your deceit”.
Reacting to the remark, Congress leader Anand Sharma termed the language used as “undiplomatic, distasteful, and unacceptable”. Sharma, who is a senior leader of the party, also took to task the Israeli Ambassador for his denial of the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza and justification for the brutal killings of over 60,000 defenceless people.
In a statement, Sharma said, “The language used is undiplomatic, distasteful, and unacceptable. Israeli Ambassador’s brazen denial of humanitarian tragedy in Gaza and justification for brutal killings of over 60,000 defenceless people deserves the strongest condemnation.”
Sharma’s reaction has sparked a heated debate on social media, with many Indians taking to Twitter to express their support for the Congress leader. Many have termed the Israeli Ambassador’s remark as an affront to Indian sovereignty and an attempt to browbeat the country’s political leaders.
The row began when Priyanka Gandhi, during a recent visit to the Gaza Strip, expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and condemned the Israeli aggression. Azar, in turn, made the remark during a press conference, saying, “What is shameful is your deceit”.
The Israeli Embassy in India has since defended Azar’s statement, saying it was made in the context of Priyanka’s remarks on the Gaza crisis. However, the Congress party has refused to back down, with Sharma saying that the Ambassador’s remark was a classic example of “dual standards” and “hypocrisy”.
The controversy has also sparked a debate on the role of foreign envoys in India and their limits. Many have questioned whether the Israeli Ambassador’s remark was appropriate and whether he had crossed the line by attacking a senior Indian politician.
In recent years, India has been accused of being overly deferential to its Western allies, particularly the United States and Israel. The Congress party has long been critical of the government’s handling of the Israel-Palestine issue, with many accusing it of being overly sympathetic to the Israeli position.
The latest controversy has only added fuel to the fire, with many calling for a re-evaluation of India’s relations with Israel and a more balanced approach to the Middle East crisis.
In conclusion, the controversy sparked by the Israeli Ambassador’s remark has raised important questions about the limits of diplomatic immunity and the role of foreign envoys in India. As the debate rages on, it is clear that the Congress party will continue to push for a more balanced and nuanced approach to the Israel-Palestine issue.
