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but added to the hardship of the Palestinians in that area. The electoral
victory of Hamas in January 2006 and its non-acceptance by the Fatah
had only fractured the Palestinian national movement. Far from uniting
against the occupation, the Palestinian allegiance was divided among the
Fatah-led PNA which controls the West Bank and the Hamas-administered
Gaza Strip.
Thus, since 2006 Palestinians have two distinct political arrangements
headed by two prime ministers. The PNA enjoys international legitimacy,
but its political and diplomatic leverages have weakened considerably by
the challenge posed by Hamas. The latter controls Gaza and its support
base is confined to regional mavericks like Iran and Syria (until the civil
war). Despite efforts by various players, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia,
the Palestinian leaders have been unable to unite even in their struggle for
statehood. Though the power struggle is as old as the birth of Hamas in
early 1988, it has worsened since the death of Arafat. In terms of charisma,
international appeal and support base, Abbas is a diminutive figure and has
no established a power hierarchy. For example, since becoming president
in January 2005, Abbas came to India as many as five times but was unable
to set foot in the Gaza Strip even once.
The inter-Palestinian differences and discord come against the back-
drop of popular protests in the Arab world which unnerved many Arab
rulers. Issues such as territorial integrity, state survival and regime preser-
vation have become more critical for them than the political rights of the
Palestinians. Not that they have become less committed to the Palestinian
cause but they have more pressing and critical issues on their table than
the Palestinians statelessness. This, in turn, has resulted in Palestinian issue
figuring less prominent in the inter-Arab discourses and relations with the
outside world. As discussed earlier, this is reflected in India-Middle East
relations. While the Palestinians issue figures prominently in New Delhi’s
engagements with Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and it is less so with other
countries.
Seen in the broader regional context, one could notice some essential
features in Indo-Saudi relations under Modi. Through intense political
engagements, he is trying to forge closer economic cooperation with the
Kingdom. Such contacts also proved useful during the evacuation of its
citizens from Yemen in April 2015. According to External Affairs Minister
Sushma Swaraj, Prime Minister Modi called King Salman and sought his
assistance. While expressing his inability to halt the military campaign
against the Houthi rebels, the Saudi monarch recognized and accepted
P. R. KUMARASWAMY AND MD. M. QUAMAR