Sofian Khan
Following his groundbreaking six months visit to Israel, Prime Minister Narendra Singh Modi left on a three-nation tour yesterday that will take him to Palestine on a short, but hugely symbolic visit before traveling to United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman. He will wrap up the tour on Monday. “This will be the first ever Prime Ministerial visit to Palestine from India,” PM Modi said in a statement about the visit that New Delhi has described as “historic”.From New Delhi, PM Modi is traveling to Jordanian capital Amman and take a chopper ride to reach the Palestinian city of Ramallah a little over 100 km away. The city in the West Bank, which hosts the Palestinian Authority’s presidential headquarters, also serves as its de facto capital – reports UNB.”We believe in the importance of a possible Indian role… to reach a final agreement based on international consensus and resolutions, in which India and other countries can be part of,” President Abbas said.But before PM Modi sits down for formal discussions with President Abbas, the Indian Prime Minister will lay a wreath at the memorial for Yasser Arafat, who headed the Palestine Liberation Organization and later also headed the Palestinian National Authority till his death in 2004.”I am looking forward to my discussions with President Mahmoud Abbas and reaffirming our support for the Palestinian people and the development of Palestine,” PM Modi said in his statement before flying out. This will be their fourth meeting.