Delhi had occasion to hear first hand accounts of the grit and resilience of the people of Palestine under Israeli occupation , including the crisis of Christians in Bethlehem, the town holy to global pilgrims as the birthplace of Jesus Christ. The Indo-Palestine Solidarity Network (IPSN) organized a discussion in the Press Club in New Delhi on 06 March, 2026 on “Palestine, Zionist-Imperialist Hegemony, and the Changing Geopolitics”.
The speakers were political commentator Dr. Qamar Agha, poet Vineet Tiwari, economist Dr. Jaya Mehta, Editor and author Journalist Dr. John Dayal, and activist Joycia Thorat, a member of the IPSN, who moderated the panel discussion. Dr. Qamar Agha emphasised the historicity of the situation and the expansionist policy of US and Israel. Through imperial power, they have been expanding through the decades, with the Zionist regime building and consolidating on its Greater Israel plan on settling in the Biblical lands.
Though the the 5000-year-old territory is holy for Jews, Christian’s and Muslims – Abrahamic religions – .behind the theological excuses, the main motive of US and Israel of the war unleashed on Iran and genocide in Gaza is to get control over the natural resources like land, oil, minerals, gas and precious stones. The US and Israel have got the support of the regimes in power in the the Arab countries after the end of he Second World War.
Dr Agha gave a vivid historical picture of the centuries old relations of people of Iran and India. Not long ago, people of Iran and India used to travel by roads and trains and sea to Iran for trade and religious purposes. There are still many Serais existing on this route where people used to stay and get cheap and good food.
Poet Vineet Tiwari gave an illustrated talk based on his very recent visit in November to the land of Palestine. He shared his many insights gained by talking to the impacted by the brutal rule of the Isdraelis, implemented through their army and settlerst.
This, he said, had created a. apartheid in Palestine which was clearly on display there, the harassment faced by Palestinians in the West Bank, and the markers that separated the Israelis from the Palestinians, were symbols of this apartheid.
He also shared pictures from his latest visit. Vineet drew parallels between the Israeli regime and the ruling political leadership which sees the Israeli ruling system as a model for India.
Economist Jaya Mehta spoke about the geopolitics and the economy. She mentioned the issue of sovereignty of nations, and highlighted that it is not an attack on the sovereignty of Israel by the Palestinians. Rather, it is a fight to gain sovereignty by Palestinians since Palestine is occupied by Israel.
Dr Mehta also spoke about the recent attack on Iran and its illegality under international law. The same pretence of “bringing democracy” has been used by the imperialist powers since a century to exploit others’ resources.
John Dayal in his intervention denounced Christian Zionism in India and world as aligning with imperialist forces and war mongers. As a frequent traveller in the region, Dr Dayal said there are Christian Arabs in Palestine and, not all Jews are Zionist. Many are supporters of Palestine like the group Jews for Jesus, he said.
As a way forward, he called upon the people of India to once again again stress their solidarity with the Palestinians. Discover your soul, he told the people, specially the Christians in India. He reminded the audience of the absurdity of the position of the RSS, the political power behind the government, which was in open admiration of Adolf Hitler and his programmes to eliminate Jews from Germany. The same RSS was also in love with the Jews because it saw Israel as islamaphobic.
The event ended with a vote of thanks by Joycia who reminded the audience they had to device if they wanted to be on the right side of history, or be known as supporters of inhuman militarist regimes and thier expansion on the lands of other peoples.
.Before they dispersed, the participants and the audience present stood with placards, posters, and pictures in support of the Palestinian struggle for self-determination.
For further details, please contact Joycia Thorat (9833100838)
