United Nations: Speaking in Arabic at the Security Council, India’s Permanent Representative P Harish has strongly assured Palestinians of India’s support for them and commitment to a two-state solution that grants them “a sovereign, independent and viable” nation. Speaking in Arabic was to send a strong message of reassurance directly to the Palestinians of India’s continued support for their rights and their cause of an independent nation, long thwarted by Israel and the US. India has given about $175 million in development assistance to Palestine covering development projects, humanitarian assistance, the construction of the Palestinian Institute of Diplomacy and contributions to UNRWA, for which it is now a top contributor, Harish said.