India voted against US move on Jerusalem at UN.

TNPSC Current Affairs - December 2017 by TNPSC Guru

India voted against US move on recognising Jerusalem as Israel Capital. India has voted on favour of resolution brought by Turkey and Yemen in the United Nations opposing the US decision on recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital.

The resolution is approved by majority of member countries by 127-9 at the UN General Assembly.

Why India voted in favour of Resolution?

• The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation  (OIC) earlier in December has decided not to support US recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital.
• OIC has 57 member countries and most of the countries are Islamic countries except 8 countries, so Jerusalem issue will be very sensitive for OIC Members.
• India has huge strategic and economic interest with OIC members, so if voted against the resolution brought about Jerusalem in UN will create strain in relation with OIC Countries.
• Also India wants to balance out its policy towards both Israel and Palestine. Recently India has deepened its military and strategic cooperation with Israel and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Visit to Israel, which many critics viewed that India has ignoring Palestine.
• But recent vote against US for recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital has supported Palestine, which emphasised India’s independent west Asia policy and India’s stand for peace in West Asia.