India’s president condemns terrorism, calls for dialogue on visit to Israel

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee condemned on Wednesday terrorism and urged a PalestinianIsraeli dialogue during his visit to Israel, the first official visit by an Indian president, after being received in Jerusalem.

“India condemns all forms of terrorism, and we have always advocated for a peaceful solution to all disputes,” Mukherjee said.

In an official ceremony at the residence of his Israeli counterpart Reuven Rivlin, Mukherjee said that he would seek “assessment from the Israeli leadership about the recent developments in this region which have caused concern all over the world and have direct implications for India.”

At least seven Israelis and 30 Palestinians have been killed amid a wave of violence, affecting Jerusalem and the West Bank since Oct. 1.

Mukherjee arrived in Israel on Tuesday after a oneday stopover in Ramallah, where he expressed India’s “firm support” for the Palestinian national aspirations to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Israel and India have strengthened their political and security relations in the past 15 years due to their interest in the latest technology and concern for the threat of radical Islam.