Netanyahu’s ‘historic’ visit to India, followed by historic demonstrations

A leading Muslim group in India organized a massive demonstration in several cities of the country against Netanyahu’s visit to India. The demonstrators demanded the government in New Delhi sever ties with Israel over a number of issues. They also slammed the US declaration of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital.

Thousands of protesters denounced Benjamin Netanyahu’s “historic” arrival in India – the first by an Israeli leader in 15 years. People burned an effigy with the PM’s picture, urging him to go back home.

A group of men gathered in New Delhi on Saturday holding placards and banners with crossed-out images of the Israeli prime minister that read “Go back, Netanyahu” in English and Hindu. As the crowd shouted anti-Israeli slogans, a man in the front held a burning effigy, with pictures of the Israeli flag and Netanyahu attached to it, as seen in footage from Ruptly.

A similar protest has been staged in the city of Kargil where thousands demonstrated against the visit and later burned Netanyahu in effigy.

The visit also comes weeks after India, along with 127 other countries, joined a UN General Assembly call for the Donald Trump administration to drop its decision on recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The Israeli ambassador to India, however, said the vote would not affect bilateral relations, which are “much stronger than one vote at the UN.”

The US’ Jerusalem move generated shockwaves across the world, with violent protests erupting beyond the Middle East and a wave of criticism against Washington.

Netanyahu, who arrived in India on Sunday for a six-day visit, will meet Modi at Hyderabad House later on Monday. The two sides will hold summit talks where the two parties are expected to sign several Memorandums of Understanding covering various sectors, including defense, oil and gas, renewable energy, cyber security among others.

Besides Delhi, Netanyahu will visit Agra, Gujarat and Mumbai along with Modi during his six-day stay in India.