Mark Sofer Isreali Ambassoder to India. file photo

Dec 9 - Israel today said differences between India and Pakistan have nothing to do with religion and these are mainly political in nature

“The conflict between India and Pakistan is not religious, it is political. A difference of opinion on political issues is there between the two countries. It is not the conflict between Hindus and Muslims,” Ambassador of Israel to India Mark Sofer said.

Mr. Mark Sofer, Sir, there is a great amount of deviation in your understanding of the relations between India and Pakistan, please note India is not a Hindus Nation it is a secular nation and is one of the biggest democracies of the world. India in its deliberations or in its foreign or internal policy is clear and has never given any indication of being communal or have any of its governments been in any manner deviating to the basics of the constitution of India.

For you to indicate or hint at any such religious angle in relations with Pakistan by India or vice versa is wild, Sir.

There is not need to emphasis that the conflict is not of Religious between India and Pakistan, we know it is not Religious, and the people of India and Pakistan know it well Sir.   As a matter of fact there are no wider issues. We are neighbors, and the only issue which has been a conflict between the two nations is the Kashmir Issue. For which India is making  all necessary efforts to solve and prove to the world that Kashmir is and will be  integral part of India. The issue in Kashmir is related to the social and cultural, and human rights that will be solved by Indian Nation.  Kashmirs is as Indian as any other Indian living in any other part of India.  Let us not fall in to the trap of sujesting that there is a religious angle to India Pak  relations.

He said same is the case with Israel and Palestine. ”The Israel-Palestine issue is also not religious in nature…the conflict we have is not between Jews and Muslims.

The issue of Palestinian and the Israel is an issue of occupation of land by force from, unarmed, suppressed, and harassed Palestinians.

This conflict has religious color and Biblical and Koranic significance; it has geographic, historic and political intent too.

Palestinians are a people whose lands are snatched and whose homes are destroyed by the Israeli Army.

There lands are still in process of getting occupied and constructions against the laws and strictures of international community and the UN are continuing breaking all international laws and resolutions and peace initiatives to bring peace and amicable settlement for a decades old conflict.

There are Muslims in Israel as it was Palestine and some who were not push out still remain in Israel and it is also possible they may be increase in big numbers again and strengthen their positions back again. Supportive nations of the west have done very little to comfort the Palestinian to get there land back.

Twenty per cent of Israelis are Muslims so this is not a religious conflict,” Sofer told reporters here.  The population of Israel is too little, yet it is a fact too the population of the Muslims in Israel is growing every year, and yes it is true the Arabs are Muslims, Jews, as well as Christians.

The problem is not Arabs only; the problem is Jewish intent and the forced occupation of the Palestinians who were Muslims, Christian, and Jews too.

It is a complex issue between Israel a nation without any fixed or defined boundaries by the international community, it is nation which is at war with most week and suppressed people Palestinians and the suffering of the people in Gaza is not reducing for more than two years, most of the them are Arabs and Muslims, this is a fact.

The intent, if you go in depth and try to understand the intentions of the Jewish Israel it is to send a message that they will not tolerate Palestinians in the occupied regions of Israel.

Most disgusting and most heinous of the acts and crimes of our times which is condemned and deplored by the whole world, of what is happening in Israel.

On his recent visit to Ajmer dargah, he said it was appreciated in his country. ”It was a good experience and the response in Israel was quite positive,” he said. Sir the beauty of India is we have laws which we put to action, and we respect all regions and religions, we give equal rights to all our citizens, we do not look at them as colors and religions and regions. Our constitution protects and does not have dual functioning there is an instance where there are flaws but each flaw is rebutted by the nation united.

We have arrived as a nation with great outlook and we love to have our neighbors friendly and do not intend to the issue slogging for long time we are apologetic if we fail to safeguard the properties and life of the people we are a keep greater nation and a bigger heart and bigger vision to make this world a better place of inclusive growth we do not see growth coming in isolation.  Sir Mark.  Hope this answers your quest for reflections.

We In India, honor international norms, we love to be a responsible nation, how about Israel which has scrapped tens and tens of resolutions of UN Against it to protect the Palestinian rights and human rights violations and forced resettlements in  occupied lands in Palestinians. Thanks for your statements and giving opportunity to reflect on Sir Mark Sofer.