Islamabad, Sept 16: External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha has said the growing Indo-Israel ties and last week's visit of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to New Delhi would not harm India's relations with the Arab world. "The fact that Sharon visited New Delhi in no way makes us complicit to what they are (Israel) doing or saying. We have explained our position with regard to Palestinian cause in very clear terms as indeed we have done repeatedly to Israel," he said in an interview to Pakistan daily 'The News.'

Replying to a question on India's relations with the Arab world, specially in the aftermath of Israel's decision to expel President of Palestine Yasser Arafat, he said, "I don't think Palestinians are in any doubt about it (Indian policy). The problem arises only with those people inside India and outside India, who are more Palestinian than the Palestinian themselves."

Bureau Report