Left flays govt over Israel

CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat today stepped up the Left's opposition to the Israel-friendly attitude of the UPA government.

"There is a major shift in the foreign policy during this UPA regime. We are deeply concerned. The government takes an evasive stand on its support to Palestine," he said today at a programme of the All India Peace and Solidarity Organization.

Taking a dig at the recent statement of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Parliament, Karat said, "The government avoided taking the name of Israel as the cause of the current distress of the Palestinians. We should compel the government to change its stand."

Karat and CPI's foreign cell head Pallab Sengupta said the Left parliamentarians would try to discuss the Palestine problem in Parliament and organise a signature campaign throughout the country.

Karat also pointed out that while Israel blocked the Gaza Strip, India launched a spy satellite that belonged to that country.