Can India and Israel be friends?

The six-day long visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to India embellished with vibrant display of affability and congeniality instilled new hopes of building steadfast bilateral ties. For long the treasured set of shared values and traditions are incessantly invoked to reiterate the ease of nurturing the friendship. Currently the added dimension of fluctuating geopolitical scenario and growing menace of Islamic terror is propelling India to adopt a bold approach towards Israel. Decades of ideological entrapment, minority pandering hamstrung Indian foreign policy and prevented New Delhi from fostering friendly ties with Israel. Incidentally, India became one of the last major countries in the World to establish diplomatic relations with Israel.

Despite commonalities of pluralism and democracy, India reluctantly accepted Israel. Having internalized the radical interpretations of Jewish claims leaders of independent India stubbornly persisted with ideological obduracy of supporting Palestinians. Though successive governments showed marginal shifts, Indian approach towards Israel was by and large besieged by sentimentalism, accentuated by fears of loss of remittances worth $35 billion sent by the seven million Indian expatriates working Middle East and energy dependency on the region. Towing along the set guidelines of Nehruvian era, India has been extending unexceptional solidarity to Palestine. Irrespective of Arab World’s unabashed indifference towards India at international forums regarding Kashmir issue, India never wavered from its ideological posturing. In sharp contrast, India hardly reciprocated Israel’s timely help during various wars. Indian politicians trapped in political polarization grossly undermined the need for reorienting Indian foreign policy to champion Indian interests in the ever-changing global scenario.

For various reasons, India’s political right always held Israel in high esteem. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sweeping electoral victory in 2014 raised new hopes of infusing fresh energy into Indo-Israel ties. Along expected lines, Modi who had developed exemplary personal relations with Netanyahu as Chief Minister of Gujarat met him just months after assuming the office of Prime Minister along the sidelines of UNGA at New York in 2014. In 2015, India abstained from voting against Israel at United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) setting a new precedent. Subsequently, the bilateral ties received a great boost with reciprocal high-level visits. In fact, Modi’s historic visit to Israel in July 2017, the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister to Jewish Land further revivified friendly ties. Fortifying friendship, in November 2017 India sent Super Hercules and 45-member contingent to participate in the Blue Flag-17 multilateral military exercise conducted by Israel. But India’s vote against Israel at the United Nations General Assembly essentially disapproving the US decision of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and reports of cancellation of $500 million purchase deal of Spike Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) apparently raised doubts about the verisimilitude of Indian diplomacy under Modi regime.

Netanyahu’s reciprocal visit to India amidst Delhi’s paradoxical posturing has heightened the curiosity of International observers. Netanyahu who arrived in India on 14^th January with over 130 business delegates is scheduled to visit Ahmedabad, Agra, and Mumbai. Setting aside official protocol, Modi received Netanyahu at the airport. The exceptional warmth and exchange of welcome hugs suggested that personal chemistry and comaraderie of leaders was hardly affected by India’s vote against Israel. Cementing the continued engagement both countries signed seven MoUs in the areas of cyber security, oil and natural gas, air transport, film production, homeopathy, space technology and investment opportunities. Indo-Israeli collaboration for the past 10 years in the agriculture and water management has yielded excellent results. Under the objective of sharing best practices and technical know-how, fifteen Centers of Excellences were established across Haryana, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Karnataka, Gujarat to impart training to farmers in new technologies. Both Prime Ministers visited Centre of Excellence in Vadrad Gujarat, to inspect its functioning and inaugurated another Centre in Bhuj. Similarly, cooperation between two countries in science and technology made substantial progress prompting both sides to upgrade collaboration in these fields.  The bilateral trade which was $200 million jumped to $4.16 billion by 2016, largely in favor of Israel. FDI inflows from Israel as of 2016 amounted to $107.6 million. Another major area where Israel made significant impact in India is Defence. Israel, a pioneering leader in advanced weapons technology is a major defence supplier of India next to US and Russia.

Innovation has been mainstay of Israel. India must make innovation its mantra to usher country to realms of economic prosperity. Speaking at the Indo-Israel business event, Modi invited Israeli business leaders to invest in India promising more reforms to further improve ease of doing business. Stating that India has immense development potential and vast opportunities for Israeli business Modi said, “Last year in July, I visited Israel, the first such visit to Israel from India. I experienced remarkable spirit of innovation, enterprise and perseverance that drive Israel”. He launched the India-Israel Innovation Bridge. To encourage innovation, both leaders inaugurated iCreate (International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology) Centre in Ahmedabad which aims to nurture, incubate, and train imaginative minds to harness innovation. Concurring with Modi’s focus on innovation, Netanyahu speaking to top corporates stressed that “future belongs to those who innovate” and India being a free nation has the right ecosystem where innovate can flourish. Rightfully, India must emulate Israel’s success story of being elite innovative nation and seamlessly collaborate with the Jewish nation.

Global politics is going through a tectonic shift and India should make necessary amends to its expired policies. Aside the resplendent optics and dynamic display of warmth, speaking at Raisina Dialogue, Netanyahu advised, “I like soft power, but hard power is usually better. You need F-35s, cyber, a lot of intelligence…where does the power for hard power come from? It comes from economic power” and admitted that Israel achieved the goal of economic power to build military. Bordered by belligerent neighbors, brothers-in-arms and relentlessly imperiled by ruthless transgressions Indian indispensability for a powerful military is obligatory. A strong economy can alone empower India to build a powerful army equipped with modern equipment.

India is projected to emerge as the third largest economy. With all the robust economic indicators finally in place, India is considered a lucrative destination for foreign investments. EU is the largest trading partner of Israel. But with all major European countries experiencing sharp economic slowdown, Israel has pivoted towards large Asian markets. Israel’s booming investments and soaring trade volumes with China reflects Israel’s marked shift in strategy. Despite its burgeoning economic and trade ties with China, Israel prefers democratic India with a free market economy. Moreover, Israel considers India as valuable partner and loves India for being the only country where Jews were welcomed and never discriminated. India has been home for Jews for over 2000 years.

While it is often cautioned that India should strike a fine balance in its ties with Israel and Palestine, the perception no longer seems to hold any ground. India would be committing a grave mistake, if it believes in championing Palestinian cause would lead to ideological salvation. Besides, Arab countries are now looking up to Israel for modern technology and with threat of rising Iran looming high Israel’s isolation is diminishing. After Trump’s suspension of aid to Pakistan, it is increasingly tilting towards China. Reports indicate Islamabad is seeking assistance of Beijing for fortification of bunkers along the LoC. The unremitting cross border infiltrations by Pakistan and latest satellite pictures showing China building roads in PoK’s Saksham Valley, north of Siachen Glacier, Pakistan-China duo are now steadily tightened noose around India. Like India Israel is surrounded by warring nations. Also, both countries being worst victims of terrorism and extremism have been waging a relentless crusade against their enemies. Similarly, Israel’s steady economic progression can be an immense learning. Netanyahu miraculous economic consolidation can be worth emulating. He single-handedly saved Israeli economy from economic downturn in 2009 as a result its GDP reached an all-time high in 2016. Israel has indeed many lessons to offer for India in various avenues. Strategic commonalities and synergistic economic complementarities between two countries offer and excellent opportunity for building and upgrading the partnership to a next level. Pragmatic assessment of global scenario and a common vision for relationship calls for   catapulting the bilateral ties to a level of privileged strategic partnership.

Israel has been the only country to supply weapons when international community has imposed sanctions on India. Israel had always pitched in to rescue India during crucial situations. Moreover, Global perception of Israel has changed significantly. Despite the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) launched against Israel, its trade and economic ties remained unaffected. On the contrary, Israel’s trade with EU and Asian countries registered a sharp increase. Latin American countries have ended support anti-Israel resolutions. Israel has established ties with 15 African countries. Indeed, it must be noted when other Muslim countries loudly protested Trump’s Jerusalem move, Arab countries condemnation was just mere whimper. Israel’s global isolation is diminishing. India must now transcend transactional approach with Israel and should start acknowledging it as a friend openly to instill confidence and build trust. This in turn would aid in forging economic and trade alliances.

In his final leg of India tour, hours after unveiling a plaque commemorating the victims of 26/11 along with Moshe Holtzberg who lost both his parents to the brutal terrorist attacks at Mumbai Chabad House, Netanyahu backed India’s right to destroy terror hideouts along the LoC. No other foreign leader on his state visit has ever openly endorsed India’s right to defend Kashmiri territory. Japan has been the only nation to extend support to India during Doklam transgressions (but the article 9 of constitution imposes curbs on a military action).  Unresolved Kashmir issue has been an outcome of reprehensible historical blunders. For the past seven decades, India has been paying heavy price for same which is draining India of its resources. Tied down by pusillanimity, fear of international ostracization and domestic polarization Kashmir issue has been a pestering sour. Netanyahu’s reassuring stance in case of India’s unilateral combative stand “Well, let’s say this, we have some understanding and I don’t think I have to add beyond that” in his interview to TOI, irrefutably apprised India of Israel’s willingness to assist in the hour of need. Perhaps, this is Israel’s way of telling India that nations respect power and strength. India can restrain China’s stealthy transgressions only if New Delhi can choke Pakistan. Being a reckless bully, China’s hegemonic aspirations can be subdued through wanton display of aggression. Ever since carving out a nation for Jews, Israel tamed neighboring bellicose countries with envious audacious actions. So long as India’s vital energies and resources are dissipated in safe guarding borders it can barely realize the dream of becoming an economic superpower.    

Barring Indian dependence on Iran for energy needs and strategic connectivity which appears to be sole discordant point between India and Israel with an enormous convergence over a range of issues…can the two nations home to oldest religions become all weather friends?

@ Copyrights reserved.