Cut military ties with Israel: Indian govt allies

Allies of India's coalition government demanded Wednesday an end to military ties with major arms supplier Israel over its blockade of the Gaza Strip and military strikes against the territory.
Several smaller regional parties joined India's Communists, who prop up Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's minority government, in calling for a return to New Delhi's "principled stand of support" for the Palestinians.
"Unfortunately the government has been evasive in its response" to the military strikes as well as the economic blockade of Gaza, said Prakash Karat, India's main Marxist leader.
In keeping ties with Israel, "India is betraying one of its most principled positions," he said.