TEHRAN – The tide of pro-democracy uprisings rolling across the Arab world has “implications” for the conflict between Israel and Palestine, according to Sujata Ashwarya Cheema, an Indian assistant professor at Centre for West Asian Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia, a Central University based in Delhi. 

Cheema, who is the author of West Asia: Civil Society, Democracy and State, made the remarks during an interview with the Tehran Times on Tuesday.  

Asked about the ties between Iran and India, she said that the two countries have historical relations, but some problems surfaced in their relations after Iran was placed under sanctions.   

There are some obstacles in the way of the expansion of ties, including a payment problem over Iran’s oil exports to India and the restriction on foreign investment in Iran’s gas and oil sectors, she added. 

However, Iran is a very important country to India due to its strategic significance and the importance of the Persian Gulf, Cheema said, adding that Iran offers the best route of access to Central Asia as well. 

Asked if the oil payment row has negatively affected the relations between the two countries, she said that it has had a negative impact on ties but has not totally undermined them. 

If Tehran and New Delhi are practicing “mature diplomacy”, they should not allow such an issue to sour their relations. 

Asked about the reason behind Turkey’s decision to host an early warning radar as part of NATO’s missile defense system, which is ostensibly meant to counter an alleged ballistic missile threat from Iran, Cheema stated that Turkey, as a member of NATO, has some obligations which it should comply with. 

On the effect that the measure could have on relations between Tehran and Ankara, Cheema said that it could affect their ties because Iran is sensitive to decisions that its friendly countries make. 

Asked if she thinks the revolutions occurring in the Arab world will alter the balance of power in favor of certain powerful countries in the region or beyond, Cheema said only time will tell that. 

Commenting on the double-standard approaches that certain Western countries, particularly the U.S., have adopted toward the developments unfolding in Bahrain, she stated they are meant to contain Iran because the West is afraid of the Islamic Republic as a revolutionary country which is seeking to emerge as a major power. 

Asked if Israel will come under pressure to make a just peace with the Palestinians if democratically elected governments come to power in the Middle East, she said that the Arab Spring and the people’s campaign for liberal democracy definitely have certain implications for the future of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. 

Israel is experiencing a difficult time because demonstrations are being held in Egypt against it and the Egyptian government has to listen to public demands, Cheema added. 

Besides, Turkey has expelled Israel’s ambassador, and this has compounded the internal problems that Israel is experiencing, she said. 

On negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian authorities, Cheema said that the United States’ intervention in the peace process, albeit lopsided, is very important. 

However, the Israelis are not listening to anyone, she added. But if they are supposed to listen to a country, that would be the United States, and Washington is in a position to compel Israel to listen to it, Cheema stated. 

Cheema also commented on the fact that Acting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on September 16 that he would apply to the United Nations Security Council for full UN membership of a Palestinian state. 

Asked if she think the bid will fail regarding the fact that Washington has promised to veto the statehood bid if it reaches the Security Council, Cheema said it is clear that the General Assembly will pass the resolution, but it will be vetoed at the UN Security Council. 

On the best solution to the Palestine issue, she stated, “In my opinion, I think they (all inhabitants of Palestine) should live together in one state. You cannot partition that land. I have been there. I have seen it. It is so small. How can you partition that land?” 

Elsewhere in the interview, Cheema replied to a question about the rivalry between India and Pakistan and ways to help resolve the situation. 

“Something should be done soon. There needs to be a political will on the parts of both countries to resolve the conflict,” she said, adding, “Somewhere a compromise needs to be made.” 

On relations among India, Pakistan, and China, she stated that Pakistan wants India to be stable and as long as China helps Pakistan maintain stability, India would have no problem with that. 

However, India does not want China or any other country to interfere in New Delhi-Islamabad issues, Cheema added. 

Asked whether the fact that Pakistan backed out of the Iran-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline project was due to the pressure being exerted by Washington on Islamabad or the conflict between India and Pakistan, she said that both factors were at work. 

She also said that there were some disagreements between Tehran and New Delhi on the price of gas. 

Cheema also commented on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, saying it is being implemented smoothly because it enjoys the support of the United States.