India and Israel: Strategic Partners on the

Indian Ocean Littoral

*Mohammed Khalid
A study undertaken by Foreign Ministry of Israel in 2009 as part of
the Branding Israel project and aimed at looking into Israels
international stature in the worlds 13 most important countries, including
the US, Canada, Britain, France, China, and Russia, it was found that the
greatest level of sympathy towards Israel (58%) can be found in India. 1
This revealing finding was contrary to the fact that India did not establish
diplomatic relations with Israel till 1992 and has always stood for the
Palestinian cause. As Britain decided to create the Jewish state of Israel
after the Second World War, India, had favoured the creation of a single
state with Arab and Jewish majority provinces with an aim to prevent
partition of historic land of Palestine and prevent any conflict that might
follow. India proposed to the Special Committee of the United Nations on
Palestine (UNSCOP) at its forty-seventh meeting on 27 August 1947 to
create a federal Palestine with autonomous status for the Jewish
population.2 Disregarding Indian position, in November 1947 the United
Nations General Assembly voted on 29 November 1947 for the partition
of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states based on religious and ethnic
majority.
*Professor of Political Science, Department of Evening Studies,
Panjab University, Chandigarh

20

Jawaharlal Nehru the then Prime Minister of India expressed his

anger and contempt on the adoption of this resolution by the UN. He said
the Zionists had tried to bribe India with millions and that his sister,
Vijayalakshmi Pandit (who headed Indian delegation in United Nations)
had received warnings that her life was in danger unless "she voted right". 3
India voted against the resolution along with 12 other members. Mahatma
Gandhi had also opposed the creation of Israel on the ground of religion
and had rejected the idea of a Jewish State in the Promised Land by
pointing out that the "Palestine of the Biblical conception is not a
geographical tract."4
Jawaharlal Nehru hesitated to recognize Israel because of the
possible adverse reaction by the Indian Muslims and the Arabs. Within the
ruling Indian National Congress, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, a close
associate of Nehru and a co-leader in Indias freedom movement was also
opposed to the recognition of Israel. In 1948 Egypt voted against India on
Hyderabad issue in the United Nations which disturbed Nehru. As a result,
though India voted against Israels admission to the United Nations in
1949, it recognized Israel on September 17, 1950. 5 Soon Israel set up an
immigration office in Bombay which was converted into a Trade Office
and later a Consulate. Nehru however indefinitely deferred to establish
diplomatic relations with Israel.6 All these years India strongly supported
Arab stance on Palestine and kept close relationship with Yasser Arafat
--the head of Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). During the 1960s
and 1970s successive Congress Party governments in India continued the
foreign policy of Nehru and maintained a strong anti-Israel posture. India
also continued to have close relations with Arab countries who had
opposed the creation of Israel and on whom India depended heavily for its
oil supplies. All these years during the Cold War, India made NonAlignment as the basis of its foreign policy albeit with a pro-Soviet tilt
while Israel became a staunch ally of the West and United States.

21

Contrary to India official stand on Israel, various Hindu

organizations in India led by the right wing Sangh Parivar, supported the
Jewish cause and the creation of Israel. Founder of Hindu nationalist
political ideology (Hindutva), V D Savarkar had strongly criticized the
anti Israel stand adopted by Nehru and the ruling Congress and described
it as a pro-Muslim agenda. He considered Israel as a decisive ally of India
and Hindus in general, as Israel was the only nation which could
checkmate the Muslim states spanning from Africa to Asia. Savarkar had
condemned India's vote at the UN against the creation of Israel. Jan Sangh
and Swantantra Party in India ceaselessly advocated the need for close
political and economic ties with Israel. 7 It reflects two divergent views
within India about the creation and recognition of Israel.

Indias relations with Jews in history

Indias relations with Jews go back to 562 BC when King
Chandragupta gave them permission to live in India freely, build
synagogues, and own property. It is also believed that the Jews first came
to Kerala following the capture of Jerusalem and the destruction of their
first temple by the invading Babylonians under Nebuchednezzar II in 597
BC. They were called Cochin Jews as they landed at Indias west coast.
Few centuries later a shipwreck stranded seven Jewish families at Alibag,
south of Bombay (Mumbai). Now called Bene Israel, these families grew
in number, integrated with the local Maharashtrian population and adopted
their language and culture. Many Persian speaking Jews from Afghanistan
and Iran came to India along with the invading armies of Ghaznavids,
Ghauri and Mughals between the 11th and 16th centuries. Some of them
were traders and courtiers of the Mughals. Akbar's Jewish advisors
significantly influenced his liberal religious policies. A Jew was the tutor
to the Mughal crown Prince Dara Shikoh; both of whom were assassinated
by Aurangzeb when he came to power.8 Jews traded freely in Kashmir,

22

Punjab, and other parts of Mughal Empire. Some Jewish families also
immigrated to India about 250 years ago from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan,
Syria, and Yemen and settled down in Bombay and later spread to Calcutta
and Burma. They eventually established manufacturing and commercial
houses in Bombay and Calcutta (Kolkota) and became one of the highest
earning communities there. Some of them donated their wealth to public
structures. For instance, the David Sassoon Docks and a Sassoon Library
was built by David Sassoon in Bombay, a prayer-hall was built by
Abraham Erulkar in Ahmadabad. Ezra Mansions and the Ezra Hospital in
Calcutta are some of the buildings built by Jews apart from many schools
and cemeteries at different places of India. Some people in the
northeastern states of Mizoram and Manipur started practicing Judaism in
the 1970s claiming to be descendants of the Tribe of Manasseh. They were
later recognized by Israel as a lost tribe and are now formally called Bene
Menashe.9
Jews have lived in India without facing any anti-Semitism from the
local population. Majority of the Indians have been very tolerant towards
the Jews throughout history. For the first time they suffered for being Jews
was at the hands of the Portuguese when they arrived on Indias western
shores (Goa coast) after 1498 and started persecuting and forcibly
converting the Jews along with Hindus. Jews were otherwise fully
assimilated in Indian ethos and culture. They have significantly
contributed to the public life in India. Dr. Abraham Solomon Erulkar (the
personal physician/friend of Mahatma Gandhi); Major-General J.F.R.
Jacob, who negotiated the terms for surrendering of the Pakistani forces in
December 1971 at Dhaka during the Indo-Pak War; Maj. Gen. Samson,
who was awarded the Padma Bhushan (third highest civilian award in
India); poet Nissim Ezeickel; cartoonist Abu Abraham; famous Hindi film
actors David, Sulochana (Queen of Indian Silent Films) and famous
actress-dancer Helen all belonged to the Indian Jewish community.

23

At the time of Indias independence about 25,000 Jews lived in

India. Majority of them have migrated to Israel after 1948. They have kept
their Indian connections alive and have set up many organizations there
such as, Central Organization of Indian Jews in Israel; Cochin Jews in
Israel; Indian Jewish Community Centre in Israel; Indian Jewish
Association; and Indian Cultural Association of Eilat.10

From estrangement to partnership

India became independent on August 15, 1947 and within a year
Israel was born on May 14, 1948. Since Indian political leadership had
opposed the creation of Israel in its present form, during 1950s and 60s
there was least official contact between the two countries though India had
recognized it in 1950. Continuing limited engagement with Israel, India
always showed solidarity with Arab nationalism and to the cause of
Palestine. Relations at strategic level began to build up in late 1960s when
R&AW (Research and Analysis Wing-Indias premier intelligence agency)
was founded in 1968 headed by Rameshwar Nath Kao. Under the
directions from the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Kao made efforts
to cultivate links with Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. India also
realized in the beginning of 1970s, that excluding Israel from its West
Asian perceptions was not pragmatic. This was facilitated by the fact that
during 1971 war with Pakistan, India sought Israels help to supply it with
the artillery weapons, mortars and ammunition --which Israel provided
promptly. At about the same time India-Israel intelligence cooperation also
commenced based on common interests leading to exchange of
information about the common potential enemy Pakistan. Interaction
between the Indian Diasporas and the Jewish groups in the United States
also paved the way to influence the governments in their respective
homelands in forging an alliance in wake of similar threats, a move
influenced by geopolitical considerations.11

24

With the end of Cold War and collapse of the Soviet Union, India
tried to come out of its old mindset to redefine its interests in the emerging
world order. For some time after the Cold War, it straddled between new
security concerns and traditional ties. India implemented many economic
reforms after 1991 understanding the benefits of opening to market
economy and gravitated towards the West including Israel. Need for
economic recovery, fast economic growth and to meet its security needs
after the collapse of Soviet Union, India established diplomatic relations
with Israel in 1992, when Congress --The party who had refrained from
being close to Israel since 1950-- was in power. Between 1993-1996 India
and Israel signed five significant trade and economic agreements. The
relations continued to grow during the premiership of H.D. Deve Gowda
(June 1996-April 1997) and I.K.Gujral (April 1997-March 1998). 12
President Ezer Weizman became first Israeli President to visit India in
December 1996 leading a 24 member business delegation. India therefore
broke out of the straitjacket of past moral histrionics and looked for
building strategic cooperation with Israel.
With the emergence of Hindutva ideology as a political force in the
electoral politics of India in late 80s and early 1990s, relations with Israel
accelerated faster. The Bhartiya Janata Party --whose precursor Bharatiya
Jana Sangh was founded by V. D Savarkar, a supporter of creation and
existence of Israel-- came to power in March 1998 under the leadership of
Atal Bihari Vajpayee and soon there was a decisive pro-Israeli shift in
Indias foreign policy. Bhartiya Janata Party led NDA government made
security doctrine of anti-terrorism a as the prominent bulwark of IndoIsrael relations. It also attempted to establish a strategic alliance with
center-right Likud Party in Israel.13
Military escalation with Pakistan after terrorist attack on Indian
Parliament in December 2001 and rise in Pakistan backed Kashmiri
insurgency in 1989 resulted in building a strategic partnership

25

between India and Israel. Rise in Islamic fundamentalism in the

Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan created serious concerns for India
and Israel who have been and remain prime targets of terrorist attacks.
Strengthening Indias relations with the United States in post Cold War
period also played a catalyst to establish and strengthen relations with
Israel. Once the relations were established, the level of collaboration
between the two countries achieved greater depths irrespective of political
party in power.
Indias Home Minister L. K. Advani visited Israel in mid 2000
along with the heads of Indias intelligence agencies R&AW, Intelligence
Bureau and central police organisations fighting against terrorism. Advani
formalised intelligence sharing and cooperation agreement with Mossad
and held discussions with Israeli arms manufacturers besides with
intelligence and border management agencies.14 The visit was followed by
External affairs Minister Jaswant Singh who signed an agreement to set up
a joint anti-terror commission to intensify cooperation in counter terrorism
and information technology.
In 2003 Ariel Sharon became the first Israeli Prime Minister to
visit India. The visit was a pivotal moment as both the countries signed a
series of cooperative agreements in several fields, including the
environment, health, education and drug trafficking. The two countries
issued the Delhi Statement on Friendship and Cooperation, and decided to
create an institutional framework to enhance bilateral cooperation.
However the visit was condemned by the leftist and Muslim organizations
in India. Hundreds of Muslims and workers of communist parties rallied to
protest against the visit in New Delhi. Students of the Aligarh Muslim
University demanded that India should sever all its ties with Israel. On the
other hand the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS-- the right-wing,
nationalist Hindu organization and mentor of Bhartiya Janata Party)

26

condemned the protests against Sharon. It argued that India and Israel are
both fighting a war against

terrorism and need to have closer cooperation. Sharon expressed

that Israelis regard India as one of the most important countries in the
world and both the countries should come together to fight against
terrorism which was a menace for the world. 15 Continuing the feat to build
up relations with Israel, Indian ministers Sharad Pawar, Kapil Sibal and
Kamal Nath visited Israel in early 2006.
In August 2007, India sent to Israel a delegation of the All India
Organisation of Imams and Mosques led by Maulana Jamil Ilyas to
portray that Indian Muslims were not against the growing Indo-Israel
relations. Imams visit was organised by the American Jewish Council as a
dialogue of democracies. To cement relations further a Jewish-Hindu
Leadership Summit was held in New Delhi on 5-7 February 2007. The
chief Rabbi of Israel, Yona Metzger and Swami Dayanand Saraswati were
actively involved in the dialogue. They stated that the Jewish and Hindu
communities are committed to the ancient traditions of Judaism and Hindu
dharma respectively, and both have, in their own ways, gone through the
painful experiences of persecution, oppression and destruction in history
and felt need to build bridges of cooperation between the two religions.16
Second Summit was held in Jerusalem from February 17-20, 2008
supported by the Government of Israel. In this meet the entire Rabbinate
and Jewish scholars participated besides the members of Hindu Dharma
Acharya Sabha and representatives of Shankaracharyas.
Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry,
visited Israel in February 2010 to discuss a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
He called the India-Israel alliance as a relationship between two souls and
Israeli President Shimon Peres stated that Indias security is as important
to Israel as its own. External affairs minister SM Krishna visited Israel in
January 2012 and called for need to enhance economic cooperation and
focused on the cooperation in intelligence sharing, security and terrorism.
By enlarging the areas of cooperation, India intended to have

27

access to Israeli technology especially in weapons, intelligence

gathering, and counter insurgency techniques. For Israel, India is a large
market for its defence and security equipments as well as a ripe place for
investment. Israel also wishes to have the political backing of an
influential nation. Other reasons of closing of ranks between India and
Israel are Islamic perspective of Indian-Pakistani conflict and continuous
terrorist attacks aided and abetted from Pakistan. Less frequent visits of
Arab leaders to New Delhi, increase in diplomatic interaction between
India and Israel, and rejection of India's (who has 120 million Muslim
citizens) application for membership of the OIC, possibly at the instance
of Pakistan, could be cited as the reasons that have gradually brought them
closer. Moreover, after the end of the Cold War, India moved closer to
United States for both political and economic reasons and to counter
Chinas growing strength in the Indian Ocean region. United States also
encouraged Israel to jointly take the security responsibility in the Indian
Ocean and the outskirts of the Gulf, to counter piracy and international
terrorism.17

Strategic Cooperation
Strategic relationship between India and Israel began when
General David Shaltiel, chief of the Israeli Army, visited India in 1963 and
the two countries signed a pact away from public domain for military
intelligence exchanges and supply of military hardware to each other and
provide military training. In 1967 during Arab-Israel war, Israel purchased
spare parts for Israeli Mystere and Ouragan fighter aircraft and AMX-13
tanks. After Israel defeated Arabs in the war, Major Ranjeet Singh, a
founder member of the Indian Parliamentary Defence Council and
member of the Lok Sabha from Uttar Pradesh, visited Israel for an on-spot

28

study of the 1967 war operations against Arabs. He recommended the use
of the same defence system for India against Pakistan and China. The
relationship between the two countries had since been

mainly in intelligence cooperation away from public domain. 18 This

relationship continued through 1970s without any publicity and was
mainly one sided in terms of Indias dependence on Israel to replace its
soviet weaponry and tap alternate sources of arms supply. After the
establishment of diplomatic relations since 1992, defence cooperation
between the two countries has increased manifold. In 1996 India
purchased 32 Searcher Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Electronic
Support Measure Sensors and an Air Combat Maneuvering
Instrumentation Simulator System from Israel. During President
Weizmans visit to India in 1997 first weapons deal between the two
nations was negotiated involving the purchase of Barak-1 verticallylaunched surface-to-air (SAM) missiles from Israel. These missiles were
required to counter P3-C II Orion maritime strike aircraft and Harpoon
sea-skimming anti-ship missiles Pakistan had purchased from the United
States.19 In March 1998 Chief of Indian Army Gen. V P Malik visited
Israel to understand Israel Army's strategy and tactics, its organisation and
training. During the Kargil Conflict in May-July 1999, Israel promptly
responded to supply UAVs for high altitude surveillance, laserguided
systems and many other equipments.20
Brijesh Mishra, National Security Advisor and Principal Secretary
to Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, visited Israel in
September 1999 to enhance strategic cooperation between the two
countries. It has been estimated that since 1992, there have been more than
50 defence related visits and consultations between the two countries. The
subject matter of most of these visits was kept confidential due to Indias
apprehension of reaction of Arab states and Indian Muslims. 21 India
purchased 50 Israeli drones for $220 million in 2005 and bought military

29

equipment worth $1.6 billion just in 2006. Indias Recent Defence

Purchases from Israel include; Artillery Guns; Battlefield surveillance
radars for artillery and infantry; fast attack naval craft Super Davora2;
Electronic Warfare System for aircraft carrier INS VIRAT; ammunition for
mortar, artillery guns and shells for tanks; ammunition for rifles;

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance purposes of Indian

Army; avionics and night vision devices for Indian Navy.22
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) entered several contracts with the
Indian Air Force to upgrade the IAF's Russian-made MiG-21 ground
attack aircrafts. In July 2007, the CEO of IAI Yitzhak Nissan visited India
to finalize a $2.5 billion deal with India to develop an anti-aircraft system
and missiles for the country, in the biggest defense contract in the history
of Israel. In the framework of which the IAI has developed the Barak-8
missile for the Indian Navy and Air Force capable of protecting sea vessels
and ground facilities from aircraft and cruise missiles. These missiles with
a range of over 70 km replace the Russian system currently used by India.
On November 10, 2008, Indian military officials visited Israel to
discuss joint weapons development projects, additional sales of Israeli
equipment to the Indian military, and counter-terrorism strategies. In one
of its biggest defence deal with India signed on February 27 2009, Israel
agreed to provide a $1.4 billion air defence system to India. Under the
terms Israel will develop and manufacture seaborne and shore-based
systems against missile attack on India. In March 2009, India launched the
RISAT-2 satellite based on the technology employed in Israel's TecSAR
(also known as TechSAR, Polaris and Ofek-8, an Israeli reconnaissance
satellite equipped with synthetic aperture radar), to take high resolution
images at night and carry out reconnaissance operations. In April 2009,
India signed a $1.1 billion agreement with Israel to provide an advanced

30

tactical air defense system and in May Israel supplied the first of three
Palcon Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) to India which
will give an edge to Indian Air Force. In the first week of December 2009,
Gabi Ashkenazi the General of Israel Defence Forces visited India to
further cement the defense ties between the two countries and pledged
help in fighting terrorism. During the meeting of Joint

Working Group (JWG) on Defence, India and Israel agreed to share

satellite intelligence on the region.23 Later in December that year, Indian
and Israeli defence officials and senior military strategic planners
discussed at New Delhi a joint plan to counter-terrorism and share
intelligence on Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Gulf region. India faces both
internal and external threats from several quarters such as Pakistan backed
terrorist networks and Maoists within the country. To tone up its
mechanism to counter terrorism, Indias intelligence agencies need
valuable inputs and cooperation from Israel to strengthen its intelligence
agencies.
During the November 2008 terror attacks on Mumbai, along with
Indians and many foreign tourists, the Chabad Jewish center was a special
target of the terrorists to avenge the atrocities on Palestinians in which
six people including four Israelis were killed. Need for joint cooperation to
deal with terrorism became more pronounced after that. Israel undertook
to train four battalions of about 3,000 Indian soldiers for specialized antiinsurgency strikes, adding to their training in desert, mountain, jungle,
counter-hijacking and hostage crisis situations. A large number of defence
deals, Israeli help in modernization of Indias defence forces and
intelligence gathering techniques suggest that expanse and depth of
strategic relationship between the two countries.

Trade and investment

Bilateral trade between Israel and Indian was about $80 million in
1991 which grew to $200 million in 2001 and further to about $4 billion in

31

2008 and $4.1 billion in 2009, excluding defense trade. Significant

business exchanges in information technology, telecommunications,
energy, chemicals, diamond, agriculture, space exploration and even real
estate have taken place between the two countries. Trade between them
has rapidly diversified from predominantly diamond industry to include
hi-tech equipments, chemical and agricultural products, and medical

equipment. Israeli companies hold investments in Indian real estate,

agriculture and other sectors, and have set up joint ventures in
telecommunications, software and production of medical equipment. India
and Israel have signed five significant trade and economic agreements
from 1993 to 1996. Negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are
currently in progress which will facilitate access for Indian industries to
the Israeli high technology sector and provide access to Israeli products in
the Indian market. This is a step ahead of the Preferential Trade Agreement
(PTA) that a Joint Study Group (JSG) set up by the two countries had
recommended to improve trade ties.24 Once the FTA commences, the trade
volume is expected to go up to $12 billion in 5 years.
Israels involvement in Indias agro-sector has grown as both
nations recognize its potential benefits. India has consistently sent
delegations to Israels triennial Agritech --one of the largest agrotechnology exhibitions in the world. As a result of such contacts, Israels
drip irrigation and other agriculture techniques have been adopted
throughout India including the establishment of seven olive plantations in
Rajasthan. Cooperation at both the public and private levels encompasses
wide-ranging projects, including water management, dairy farming,
horticulture and floriculture. It also includes latest cultivation techniques,
pesticides and post-harvesting support to improve yields by saving on
water consumption. Israel has helped to set up two centres for fruits and
vegetables at Karnal and Sirsa in Haryana. Three more centres are planned
to be set up in Maharashtra. Agan Makhteshim, a leading pesticide and
farm nutrient manufacturer from Israel has established its manufacturing

32

base in Andhra Pradesh. Another Israeli multinational company, Elbit

Imaging, has established large dairy farm with over 10,000 cows in
Andhra Pradesh. Israel is also working on a water harvesting project for
Cherrapunji. They have also established agricultural research and
development centers in New Delhi and Mumbai. Netafim, a Tel Avivbased company that provides irrigation solutions for agriculture and

landscaping, sold equipments worth $500 million in 2007 and in 2008

India became Netafims second largest market. In 2008 the Company
opened a second factory in Chennai, making India the only nation to have
more than one Netafim factories outside Israel. 25 In the real estate projects,
PBEL, --a joint venture of Hyderabad-based Incor Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd
and Israeli firms Property and Building Corp. Ltd and Electra Real Estate
Ltd-- has invested $1 billion to build 10 million square feet of residential
and business space in three cities of India.26
Collaboration in science and technology
India has built closer ties with Israel in the areas of
nanotechnology, information technology, water technology and
biotechnology. First Agreement on Cooperation on Science and
Technology was signed between the two countries on May 17, 1993. In
1998, the Indo-Israel Joint Symposium on Human Genome was held in
Jerusalem in which six Indian scientists participated. Another Indo-Israel
status seminar on human Genome Research was organized in India on
December 2000. In 1999-2000, India and Israel were involved in 22 joint
research projects supported and monitored by the Department of Science
and Technology. Scientists from both countries visit the laboratories of
their collaborators and short term exchange visits are organized. The IndoIsrael Joint Committee of scientists was constituted with Secretary
Department of Science and Technology, Government of India as its Cochairman.

33

Strengthening ties in the field of science and technology, in 2003

the two countries doubled the investment in science and technology
collaboration to $1 million with $0.5 million from each country from
October 2004. Both signed in 2004 a MoU for jointly funding industrial
R&D projects. In an agreement signed on May 30, 2005, India and Israel
pledged to set up a fund to encourage investment and joint industrial
ventures and enhance collaboration in nanotechnology, biotechnology,
water

management, alternative energy, space and aeronautics. Indian

Space Research Organization (ISRO) has plans to collaborate with Israel
to utilize satellites for better management of land, other resources and
participate in Chandrayaan mission for sending an unmanned craft to the
moon. Israeli Defence Company Elbit Systems has been given a $3.5
million contract to supply a space camera (Tauvex II) to be launched into
space mounted on the Indian Satellite GSAT-4, for the purpose of
scientific research in exploration of the galaxies.
In 2009-10 Joint Science and Technology Committee meeting was
held and under the Indo-Israel Industrial R&D Programme three new
projects in various fields of scientific collaboration were shortlisted for
support. India deputed thirty senior scientists for one-week training in
Israel. In 2010-11, Ramanujan Fellowship was awarded to one Israeli
scientist with higher academic credentials Israel. India-Israel-Canada
Trilateral Meeting (under the Trilateral R&D Partnership Development
Activity) on Water Technologies was held in February, 2011 in Ontario,
Canada.
Within the framework of the Israeli-Indian Agreement on scientific
cooperation, the India Ministry of Science and Technology and the Israel
Ministry of Science and Technology provide financial support for joint
research projects carried out by Israeli and Indian scientists. Indian-Israeli
research teams jointly work to study solar energy, information and
communication technologies (ICT), imaging and robotics. Both the
countries exchange students through scholarship and promote joint
university initiatives, to enhance bilateral cooperation.27

34

Tourism and culture

India is known in Israel as an ancient nation with strong cultural
traditions. In popular Israeli perception India is an attractive, alternative
tourist destination. Israeli youth are particularly attracted to India and
more than 40,000 Israeli tourists travel to

India every year. Place like Kasol in Himachal Pradesh has become like
mini Israel in India. They visit Ladakh and Kashmir for trekking and
tourism. The Chabad movement caters to these visitors by running four
centers throughout India. There are other seven Jewish outreach centers in
India catering to Israeli visitors. The number of pilgrims and tourists from
India visiting Israel also touched 20,000 in 2007 which has gradually
increased. More than 20 books of Indian poetry have been translated into
Hebrew. The level of understanding of and knowledge about India is
growing in Israel as a growing economic power house and as an important
centre for hi-tech. It was the India-Israel Cultural mix that the Israel
Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) appointed famous Indian composer Zubin
Mehta its Music Advisor in 1969, Music Director in 1977, and made him
its Music Director for Life in 1981.28

Emerging India-Israel strategic partnership in the Indian Ocean

The shores of India and Israel are washed by the Indian Ocean.
While India is geographically located at a prominent place in the Ocean,
Israel (basically a country of Mediterranean) has only 8 km coastline in

35

the Gulf of Aqaba --the Red Sea arm of the Indian Ocean. Most of Israels
adversaries --be it Arab states, Iran, or Pakistan-- are located on the Ocean
littoral. Therefore Israels strategic interest in the Indian Ocean and the
lands around it is natural. India and Israel share a common threat of
terrorism and sea piracy and their primary interests in the Indian Ocean are
fundamental to their national security. India intends to protect its
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of over 2.3 million square kilometers,
secure its energy and trade lifelines and keep a guard from terrorist
intrusions. Israel also intends to stamp out terrorist networks in the region
and counter any emerging conventional or nuclear threat. Both are
concerned about the growing nuclear capabilities of Pakistan and Iran. To
deal with the Iranian and

Pakistani contingencies, Israel has emphasized on developing

strategic reach and a maritime second-strike nuclear capability with
respect to the Indian Ocean. To deal with the potential threats, there is an
evolving Indo-Israeli security partnership which has strengthened defence
and strategic cooperation. India seems comfortable with, and appreciative
of Israel's expanding security perimeter and its growing strategic
involvement in the Ocean. Brajesh Mishra, the then National Security
Advisor of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, outlined a proposal in a
speech to the American Jewish Committee in Washington in May 2003
that India, Israel, and the United States should unite to combat the
common threat of Islamic fundamentalism. He argued that democratic
nations that face the menace of international terrorism should form a
"viable alliance" and develop multilateral mechanisms to counter this
menace.
Pakistans growing missile and nuclear weapon technologies are
main concern to Israel and India. Pakistan is a supplier of intermediaterange missiles and transfers this technology to boost its arm industry to
countries like Iran, Libya, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Syria which is seen as a
serious threat by Israel.29 Concern also emanates from Pakistans
increasing defense cooperation with Iran, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Yemen and
GCC countries that heavily rely on Pakistani forces. Many defence

36

personnel in Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and UAE are of Pakistani origin. This
cooperation props up India and Israel for defence cooperation. To counter
its potential enemies, Israel has acquired an element of strategic depth, has
set up logistical bases and has reportedly stationed its submarines in the
Persian Gulf. Israel sees the potential in establishing a logistical
infrastructure in the Indian Ocean with the cooperation of the Indian Navy.
In 2000, Israeli submarines reportedly conducted test launches of cruise
missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads in the waters off the Sri
Lanka coast. Indian Navy has also conducted goodwill visits to Israel. Its
INS Shakti, INS Gomti and INS Ranveer visited Port Eilat on March

28, 2000. Indias space collaboration with Israeli is also aimed to

gather information on the movements in the Indian Ocean.30
Emerging India-Israel collaboration, it is believed, is endorsed by
the United States to help forge a potent stabilizing force in the Indian
Ocean region. It will help to keep the Eastern approaches of the Indian
Ocean open to Europe. With US participation, Israel and India can
successfully fight the war against terrorism and such a trilateral alliance
could also serve as a nucleus around which other like-minded regimes
could coalesce. Brajesh Mishra envisioned establishing a core...of
democratic societies [India, Israel, and U.S.] [with] the political will and
moral authority to...take on international terrorism in a holistic and
focused manner.31 The Indo-Israel bond has withstood the vagaries of
political upheaval in both countries. Perhaps most significantly for Israel,
the bilateral ties have continued unimpeded regardless of the Indian
political party in power. No major political party or even community in
India today opposes closeness between India and Israel.

37

Conclusion
Relations between India and Israel have gone through the rough
and tumble of Cold War and post-Cold War phases. From a total distrust
and antipathy, relationship has burgeoned into a situation where Israel is
poised to become one of the largest defence suppliers to India. From
Nehrus idealism to the pragmatism of contemporary international
realities, both have discovered many commonalities in their worldview.
India's national interests in the present scenario dictate it to enhance
strategic cooperation with Israel. Israel gives unreserved support to India
on the Kashmir issue, provides intelligence inputs to India and has
common concerns on the menace of terrorism. However, in maintaining
strategic relationship with Israel, India has to keep its old relations with
Arabs intact. To demonstrate that solidarity India at times condemns
Israeli attacks on Palestinians, Just as India publicly condemned
Operation Cast Lead, in which Israel used excessive force on the Gaza
Strip in late 2008-early 2009. India also joined in the international
condemnation of the May 31, 2010 Israeli attack on the Turkish Ship Mavi
Marmara in which nine persons were killed. The ship was carrying
humanitarian aid for the people of the blockaded Gaza Strip.
By condemning such Israeli actions India has been trying to make
Arabs believe that its relations with Israel are not at their cost. So far India
has succeeded to maintain and develop relationship with Israel without
overly antagonising the Arab world. India is probably also aware that
relationship with Israel depends to a considerable extent on its equations
with the United States. The ties could face a set back if, under US
pressure, Israel scraps or puts on hold the supply of defense equipment or
develops cold feet in its relations with India. If India moves too close to
Israel and suddenly relations go cool, India will lose not only Israel but
also its old Arab friends. Nevertheless, India and Israel need each other to
meet the emerging security exigencies in the Indian Ocean region. For
India as an emerging economic and military power in South Asia and
Indian Ocean, it is prudent to have close relationship with Israel.
References:1. Based on the survey on behalf of the Foreign Ministry of Israel a study
rated the countries where there is high support for Israel in the following
order: India 58%; the United States 56%; Russia 52%; Mexico 50%;

38

China 48%; Italy 39%; Canada 39%; Poland 36%; Germany 35%; the
United Kingdom 34%; France 27%; and Spain 23%. See, Hassman,
Rommey, The Israel Brand: Nation Marketing under Constant Conflict,
School of Policy & Government, Tel Aviv University, 2009; Israeli Public
Relations Firm Asks: How Do You Feel About Us, Really?, The Mideast
Peace Pulse, available at, http://www.israelpolicyforum.org/blog/israelipublic-relations-firm-asks-how-do-you-feel-about-us-really
2. Report of UNSCOP-1947, United Nations, Department of Public
Information, New York.

3. Heptulla, Najma (1991): Indo-West Asian relations: the Nehru era,

Allied Publishers, New Delhi, pp. 158; Selected Works of Jawaharlal
Nehru, Second Series, Vol. V, Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, OUP,
1987, p.205.
4. Mahatma Gandhi sympathized with the Jews, who as a people were
subjected to inhuman treatment and persecution for a long time. But he
asserted, "My sympathy does not blind me to the requirements of justice.
The cry for the national home for the Jews does not make much appeal to
me. See, Editorial in Harijan, November 11, 1938; also see, Gandhi, M
K, The Jews in Palestine, The Harijan, November 26, 1938.
5. Ghose, Sankar: Jawaharlal Nehru, a biography, Allied Publishers, New
Delhi, 1993, p.270
6. Ibid.,
7. Savarkar, Vinayak Damodar: Hindutva, Bharati Sahitya Sadan, Delhi,
1923.
8. Fischel, Walter J, Jews and Judaism at the Court of Moghul Emperors
in Medieval
India, Proceedings of American Academy of Jewish
Research, vol. 18, (1948-1949), pp. 137-77
9. Katz, Nathan: Who are the Jews of India? University of California
Press, 2000, p. 26; Wax, Emily, "In India, a Jewish Outpost Slowly
Withers." The Washington Post, August 27, 2007; The Virtual Jewish
History
TourIndia,
available
at,
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/indians.html
10. Chawla, Maina: Being Indian, Being Israeli: Migration, Ethnicity and
Gender in the Jewish Homeland, Manohar Publishers, New Delhi, 2010;

39

Mandalia, Sejal, Indian Jews

in Israel,
available
http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/36-19039.aspx

at,

11. RAW & Mossad: The Secret Link, rediff NEWS, September 09,
2003 14:33 IST, see at, http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/sep/08spec.htm
12. For Indo-Israel relations see, Kapila, Subhash, IndiaIsrael Relations:
The Imperatives for Enhanced Strategic Cooperation, South Asia
Analysis
Group
Papers,
Available
at,
http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers2/paper131.html; Prasad, Vijay:
Namaste Sharon: Hindutva and Sharonism under US Hegemony, Left
Word books, New Delhi, 2003; Kumaraswamy, P. R: India's Israel Policy,
Columbia University Press, 2010.

13 Vanaik, Achin, Israel and India, Zionism and Hindutva, Alternatives International
Journal, October-November 2009; also see, Prasad, Vijay: Namaste Sharon, op. cit.,
14. Srikantan Nair, R: Dynamics of Diplomacy Delayed: India and Israel, Gyan Books,
New Delhi, 2004, p. 164.
15. Gajendra Singh, K, Israeli Prime Minister Sharons Indian Visit: Historical
Perspective, South Asia Analysis Group, Paper no. 782, dated September 9, 2003.
16.
Historic
Hindu
Jewish
Declaration,
available
http://www.millenniumpeacesummit.com/Hindu-Jewish_Summit_Information.pdf

at,

17. Pasha, A.K: India and OIC: Strategy and Diplomacy, Center for Peace Studies New
Delhi, p. 40; Dixit, J.N: My South Block Years: Memoirs of a Foreign Secretary, UBS,
New Delhi, 1996, p. 313.
18. Joshi, Manoj, Uniform to Pinstripes, India Today, April 6, 1998; for a detailed
account of India-Israel clandestine relations, see, Abadi, Jacob: Israel's quest for
recognition and acceptance in Asia: Garrison State diplomacy, Frank Cass, London,
2004.
19. Bedi, Rahul, Moving closer to Israel, Frontline, vol. 20, issue, 4, February 15-28,
2003.
20. India, Israel talking over the counter now, Daily Times, July 30, 2002.
21. Srikantan Nair, op. cit., p. 164.

40

22. Sud, Hari, Israel's military supplies to India, Asian Defence, February 28, 2009,
available at, http://theasiandefence.blogspot.com/2009/02/israels-military-supplies-toindia.html; William, Michael, Israel as big supplier of weapons to India, Pakistan
Observer e-paper, at, http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=38221
23.
See,
India
and
Israel
to
strengthen
defence
relations,
at,
http://www.8ak.in/8ak_india_defence_news/2009/12/india-and-israel-to-strengthendefence-relations.html; Joshi, Saurabh, Top Israeli defense official in India, Star Post,
December 21, 2009, available at, http://www.stratpost.com/top-israeli-defense-official-inindia; also see, Pandit, Rajat, Indo-Israeli air defence project gets green light, Times of
India, July 13, 2007.
24. Indo-Israel body to boost trade, Indian Express, January 13, 2009; Rishi Kumar, V,
India, Israel close to finalising free trade pact, Business Line, The Hindu, May 17,
2010.

25. Israel agriculture: Role model for India? Agriculture & Industry Survey, June 1,
2006; Agriculture show to boost India, Israel cooperation, Business Standard, May 9,
2006; for details about NETAFIN, see, http://www.netafim.com/
26. PBEL purchases Rs180 crore plots in Chennai, meri news, May 17, 2008, available
at,
http://www.merinews.com/article/pbel-purchases-rs180-crore-plots-inchennai/134095.shtml
27. For details of cooperation in Science and technology, see, Vasishta, Naveen: Status
of Scientific Cooperation with Israel, Department of Science and Technology,
Government of India (memo graph); also see, India and Israel for scientific
cooperation, Deccan Chronicle, March 23, 2010; India and Israel to enhance scientific
cooperation, The Hindu, March 23, 2010.
28. For cultural relations and tourism between India and Israel, see, Culture and
Tourism, on the website of Embassy of India in Tel Aviv, at,
http://www.indembassy.co.il/India-Israel%20Bilateral%20relations.htm; India, Israel
explore new partnerships in culture and education, Thaindian News, September 11,
2008;
India
Israel
Relations
Facts
and
Figures,
available
at,
http://israelseen.com/2010/07/27/india-israel-relations-facts-and-figures/
29. William, Michael, Israel as big supplier of weapons to India, Pakistan Observer,
epaper, Sunday, July 08, 2012.
30. Kapila, Subhash, op. cit.,
31.
See,
Ruth
King,
Martin
Sherman:
Strategic
Bedfellows,
at,
http://www.ruthfullyyours.com/2010/11/08/martin-sherman-strategic-bedfellows/

41

42