'India Is A Voice Of Reason, An Important Partner': Israel As Tensions Escalate In Middle East

As the situation continues to escalate in the Middle East, Israel has thanked the government and people of India for their support, saying that Delhi is an important partner for the Jewish country and that it could act as a “voice of reason” in the crisis-marred region facing full-fledged war.

The Middle East has been on edge awaiting Israel’s response to a missile attack from Iran last week that Tehran carried out in retaliation for Israel’s military escalation in Lebanon. The Iranian attack ultimately killed no one in Israel and Washington called it ineffective.

As the situation continues to worsen in West Asia, Alex Gandler, the Deputy spokesperson of Israel’s foreign ministry said Iran should dissolve its proxies, and stop attacking Israel.”We have a very good relationship with the Indian government. Great appreciation on the government level but also on the people-to-people level. India is an important partner for Israel. We see India as a voice of reason that could act in this region,” he told ANI.

A year after the October 7 Hamas attack triggered the war in Gaza, India continues to underline the need for dialogue and diplomacy amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which now fully involves Lebanon and Iran. While condemning last year’s terrorist act against Israel, India has also voiced concern over the loss of civilian lives in the conflict.

Even before the situation began to exacerbate in West Asia, it focused on the need for peace and humanitarian aid for Palestinians, while also making a case for Israel’s right to respond to the violence perpetrated on its soil.

On the growing tensions in the region, Gandler said “There are many mediators in the middle, many people who are speaking about what should and should not be done with Iran. I think first of all, maybe a message of calm should be transferred to Iran, a mediation message that will say that Iran should dissolve its proxies, stop attacking Israel and stop the rhetoric against Israel, both on the international stage and also internally.”