India-Israel relations after Modi’s visit

6 min readFeb 11, 2020

Introduction

Hindus and the Jews have a strong bond from a very long time. Hindus welcomed Jews as their own when they were facing anti semitism all over the world. When Jews came 2000 years ago, they were welcomed wholeheartedly. They built synagogues and always co-existed peacefully. This can be clear from the comment of American Jewish committee leader Rabbi Metzger:

“Jews have lived in India for over 2,000 years and have never been discriminated against. This is something unparalleled in human history.”

This makes India and Israel natural allies. During the Congress rule, India had very little political contact with Israel openly. Congress’ leaning towards Soviet Union made it almost impossible to improve ties. Things have changed since and India now is more independent in its idealogy than ever before. It enjoys majority government which puts India’s interest above everything. What it now needs is a strong international support to reach its milestones. This trip by PM Modi is going to be one of those milestone in terms of international relations. PM Modi’s visit comes after visits by NSA Ajit Doval, several senior secretaries, minister of state for agriculture S.S. Ahluwalia-led 11 member multi-party parliamentary delegation and Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba’s five-day visit in early June. Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to reciprocate by visiting India in 2018.

On June 18th, Israeli cabinet approved a 23-page document which contains bilateral measures and a budget of about $79.6 million (Rs.530 crores). It is known that 11 ministries were involved in preparing the document. This underlines the seriousness of the deals and how both countries are trying to improve the relations.

Israeli-Palestine conflict

In the past, India’s stand on Israeli-Palestine conflict has been always against Israel as India had heavy influence of Soviet Union. But, India has always stood for two state theory. India recognises both Israel and Palestine as independent sovereign nations. In fact India is the first non-Arab nation to recognize Palestine and maintain diplomatic relationships. Hence, to say we are against Palestine in befriending Israel is wrong.

India and Israel have over the years developed interest in the collaborating in many sectors. PM Modi is likely to make a great campaign on “Make in India” for Israeli companies to invest in India. We might get to see some heavy investments by the Israeli companies in India. We focus on the areas where India- Israel can improve bilateral ties.

Defence

Israel is the biggest supplier of defence technologies to India after US and Russia. The Indian Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has last year approved the purchase of two Phalcon Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) in defence sales, totalling approximately $3bn, from Israel. A deal including the most advanced Barak 8 air defence system of $2 billion was signed in April. This system is developed as a joint project between Israel and India. A deal also includes sale of spike anti- tank missile $500 million from Israel’s Rafael defence systems, which if signed, would make 2017 a record year in terms of Israeli weapons sales to India. The defence partnership is said to increase in the coming months.

Indians admire the grit the Israelis have shown in tackling terrorism. India and Israel face a common enemy in Islamic terrorism. No Indian ever forgets the help of Israelis in Kargil war. SWAT teams of India regularly train in Israel in anti-terrorism combat operations.

Intelligence

RAW(Research and Analysis wing) and Mossad are strong allies right from the inception of RAW in 1968 by Rameshwar Nath Kao. Mossad’s intelligence capabilities are known worldwide. The assassination of Hamas leader is very well known in intelligence history. Mossad also provides RAW key inputs on Terrorist operations. Because we face common enemy in Islamic fundamentalist organisations it is therefore imperative for us to work together. Over the years RAW has gained credible experience in dealings counter terrorism operations. A combined effort by both will lead a significant dent to the Islamic fundamentalist organisations. Israelis are well known for their surgical strikes. India must soon take cue from Israel and make surgical strikes a new common in (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) POK area which is heavily infested by Islamic fundamentalist outfits. A further renewed effort would be seen in the coming months.

Because we face common enemy in Islamic militant organisations it is therefore imperative for us to work together in tackling them

Water technology

India is a peninsula and land where perennial rivers have kept flowing. There is no dearth of water in India. But India still faces water shortage. Whereas Israel is a desert and lacks any perennial river like India. But no one forgets how through desalination Israel has made available 24 hrs of drinking water to its citizens. Not only have they met their water requirement, but they started irrigation. India can adopt the technology of desalination and make the efficient use of their water technology. This I think is the one area which can be explored further.

Agricultural technology

Education

Israel is a country with highest literacy rate of about 97.3% and one of the highest per-capita Nobel Prize winning country . A high level collaboration would always be beneficial.t

Few years back India-Israel inked a deal of $5 million for Joint Educational Research Programme. Given the Research opportunities that can be explored I feel much more can be done.

An association which regularly handles India-Israel collaborations in Education would be necessary.

Identity crisis

Lately India learnt a lesson that radical Muslims prioritise Islamic Fundamentalism over India no matter what. And practical Muslims to whom India is of major importance would like to befriend Israel. Hindus have always been sympathetic for the Israeli cause. To survive in a hostile environment is never easy. In fact we admire their tenacity of facing threats from neighbours and still never giving up. The various moves by Israeli Defence forces must be viewed with respect to self-defence surviving among several terrorist outfits. It comes more of a preventive measure than a deliberate attempt.

What we need to learn from Israel

Israel has very influential set of diaspora living all across the world. They have been very helpful in securing all the strategic interests of Israel. India also has influential set of diaspora all across the world. Though Modi is trying to establish a permanent link by addressing Indian diaspora each time he visits a country, a more concentrated focus on deploying them to secure Indian interests would be needed.

For a long time India has been defensive in its approach to Pakistan and Pakistan sponsored terrorist groups. We did nothing when hundreds of soldiers lost their lives by the cross border terrorism. Whereas Israelis go to any extent to protect even one soldier. They don’t desist in using heavy force to teach enemy a lesson. A shift from defensive to offensive would be much needed. If only India can adopt this political mind-set from Israel things could be far better.

Conclusion

By supporting Palestine neither did we receive any support from the Arab nations in the UN nor have they stood against Pakistan on the issue of terrorism. This Arab — Palestine nearness has brought nothing to strengthen India’s interest, instead it only worsened our security concerns. Compare this with Israel, not only do we get advanced military technology we also get a true friend who has stood by us in times of war and crises.

It is time to find a new ally in Israel and support it in international forum. For India’s emergence as a global super-power in the new world order we need a strong ally. And in Israel we find all the traits.

The views are strictly personal