New Delhi

Muslims and Jews have a common heritage and roots and “we are cousins." This is what Maulana Umair Ilyasi said during the Iftar dinner hosted by the Israeli Embassy in Delhi.

The embassy organized the fast-breaking meal Iftar on Tuesday and it was attended by diplomats from Turkey, Jordan, and Egypt; politicians, spiritual figures, and prominent Muslims.

Maulana Umair Ilyasi, leader of the All India Imam Organization, said that political and diplomatic relations between Israel and India should be strengthened. He spoke in support of the US Alliance for Democracy but said that giving independence to Muslims (Palestine) was important.

Israel's  Ambassador to India Naor Gilon Tweeted pictures of the occasion:

Ambassador @NaorGilon hosted the annual Iftar dinner yesterday for spiritual leaders, his diplomatic counterparts and friends. #RamadanMubarak pic.twitter.com/rmQ4TfGrPa

— Israel in India (@IsraelinIndia) April 13, 2022

Speaking to Awaz-the Voice, Dr. Khawaja Iftikhar Ahmed, another eminent scholar who attended the Iftar, said that “it was a very important gathering that sent a great message to the world.”

On the Muslim-Jew relations, he said, “Islam and Judaism have a divine relationship; so, we as Muslims cannot deny any of the one hundred and twenty-four thousand prophets, whether Jesus or Moses. By doing so, we will automatically go beyond the realm of Islam.”

Dr. Khawaja Iftikhar further said that Israel is India's strategic partner, and political, social, and trade relations between the two countries are strong. He said on foreign relations one must always back the government and personal opinions or choices should not matter in such relations.”

Due to the Corona epidemic, the hosting of Iftar parties had stopped for two years. With the situation improving the parties have started.