"I heartily commend the indefatigable spirit of the Palestinian people and take this opportunity to reaffirm India's principled and unwavering support to their just cause.
"We have always considered the conflict in West Asia to be political in nature and therefore we believe that it cannot be resolved by force," Mukherjee said at a banquest hosted by him in honour of visting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
He said India wishes to see realisation of a state of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, existing within secure and recognised borders side by side and in peace with Israel.
Mukherjee noted that India's commitment to Palestine was given voice by none less than Mahatma Gandhi in the days of India's own struggle for independence.
"As early as in 1936, 'Palestine Day', to mark our solidarity, was observed in India. In the early years of independent India, our policy and support for the Palestinian cause was consolidated under the leadership of our first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru," he said.
"India has been consistent and persevering in its commitment to the Palestinian cause," he said, adding India supported implementation of relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly.
He underlined India's full support to President Abbas' efforts to be a member of the United Nations.
