What brings India closer to Israel
and multifaceted current interactions, India’s efforts to develop the Israel relationship have been critically scrutinised by constituencies both in India and outside. This has been on account of nature of India’s own struggle for Independence when our leaders supported a multi-religious secular State, and voted at the UN against establishment of Israel on basis of religion.
Facts on ground and UN decision led to our recognising Israel in 1950. Domestic concerns in India, following partition in 1947, slowed down full normalisation, and it was pushed back further when Israel was seen as having joined former colonial powers Britain and France in an attack on Egypt in 1956 aimed at thwarting the nationalisation of the Suez Canal. There has also been principled support in India on the Palestine issue, and India recognised the Palestinian State in 1988. India also has critical interests in the Arab world with the presence of a 7 million strong diaspora, significant energy imports and remittances of foreign exchange.
Every country pursues its foreign policy to maximise its own national interests. Egypt and Jordan have peace treaties with Israel. Qatar had hosted an Israeli trade office for many years. There have been reports of contacts and back channel links between several Arab countries and Israel. The Palestinian leadership, despite disagreements and disappointments, also engages periodically in talks. It is clear, therefore, that India’s interests lie, while maintaining its principles, in securing bilateral cooperation for its own interests. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel at this stage is another firm step in that direction.