Why Gandhi was against Jews state in Palestine

Subject: History

Section: Modern India

Why Gandhi was against Jews state:

Mahatma Gandhi expressed deep sympathy for the Jewish people who had faced historical persecution and equated their suffering with that of the untouchables in Hindu society.
He condemned the German persecution of Jews, even suggesting that war against Germany to prevent their persecution would be justified.
However, Gandhi opposed the establishment of a Zionist state in Palestine, asserting it was inhumane to impose Jews on the Arabs and reduce them.
He believed that any settlement in Palestine should be achieved with the goodwill of the Arabs, without the aid of force, as it violated their rights and aspirations.
Gandhi also raised concerns about the impact on Jews in other parts of the world if they were forced to relocate to Palestine.

How Gandhi’s position on Israel influenced India’s foreign policy.

Gandhi’s stance on the Israel-Palestine issue was not unique and resonated with many leaders across the Arab world and anti-imperialists worldwide.
They criticized Britain’s administration of Palestine and the Balfour Declaration, which promised a homeland to the Jews in the British Mandate, thereby impacting the region’s geopolitics.
Gandhi’s views deeply influenced India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and significantly shaped India’s foreign policy for decades.
India initially voted against the UN Resolution 181 that partitioned Palestine but eventually recognized Israel in 1950.
However, official diplomatic relations with Israel were only established in 1992, under Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao.