The diplomatic relationship between India and Israel started on the 29th of January 1992. It’s rare to see the discussion about India-Israel relations. India and Israel both have focused on defence cooperation, investment and trade policies. The bilateral ties between these two countries have been strong since 1950. India is the largest buyer of Israel’s military equipment, both countries have seen too many ups and downs together and India-Israel has developed from bilateral relations to strategic relationships.

Rise and Growth of Israel

Mahatma Gandhi was among the first global leaders to support the call for a separate homeland for the Jewish people. The Balfour Declaration had supported the creation of this homeland by dividing the Palestinian territories. It was only in the year 1948 after the end of World War II that the state of Israel was established and was immediately within 24 hours attacked by its neighbouring countries Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. The young country fought bravely and defeated all its neighbours and successfully defended its territories. India and Israel gained their independence from colonial rule in 1947 and 1948 respectively, but Israel got its position as a stable country later in the decade.

1. In September 1950 Jawaharlal Nehru, the Indian prime minister, finally recognised the State of Israel. It was only in 1992 that the two sides established full diplomatic relations and it took another 25 years for the establishment of strategic partnership.
2. During the Indo-Pak war in 1971, Israel supported India. India formally established open and formal relations with Israel in 1992, after decades of pro-Arab policy and non-aligned agreement. Israel showed support to India by providing arms and ammunition during the Kargil War.
3. India and Israel both fought for independence and were respectively divided into two parts on the basis of religion. India voted against the plan of partition of Palestine also India was one of the few nations which provided refuge to the persecuted Jewish population.
4. India from its independence was committed to the Palestinian cause and was a leader of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Israel, on the other hand, supported the US during the cold war period.
5. The end of the cold war and the disintegration of the former USSR in 1991, provided not only opportunities for growth in the Indo-US relations but also in that of many US allies such as Japan, ASEAN nations, and Israel.

Pillars of Cooperation between India and Israel

1. Defence strategic and Arm deals.
2. In 1996, IAI Searcher Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Electronic Support Measure sensors and Air Combat Manoeuvres Instrumentation simulator systems were purchased by India from Israel. In 2008, Indian military officials visited Israel to discuss anti-terrorism strategies, additional sales of Israeli equipment and joint weapons development projects. On 9 November 2021, a Bilateral Innovation Agreement was signed between the Defence Research and Defence Organisation and the Directorate of Defence Research and Development.
3. Israel has a Two-State Solution policy and supports India on matters related to its defence and national security. Phalcon AWACS, IAI radar equipment fitted with Russian IL-76 transport aircraft were purchased by India.

Science and Technology Cooperation

1. India and Israel have signed a science and technology agreement, which allows both countries to have scientific cooperation, technology, information, biomass and lasers are specific fields mentioned in the agreement.
2. To clean Ganga, the Israeli government offered help to Indian management. The countries also initiated technological and economic cooperation in the agriculture sector.

• Economic Cooperation

1. Precious stones and metals, minerals, chemicals. Machinery and transport equipment are majorly imported from Israel. A free trade agreement was signed in 2010 between India and Israel.
2. During the pandemic in 2020, India exported a 5-ton shipment of medicine and drugs.

• Cultural Relations

1. India was one of the few nations which provided refuge to the persecuted Jewish population.
2. Also, India has a Jewish community. They have been given minority status in the states of Maharashtra and West Bengal.
3. There are over 85,000 Indian Jews staying in Israel.

The Road Ahead

1. Israel is a land of opportunities and as the region embraces peace over conflict, India can play a positive role as it becomes a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2021.
2. Following the post-Soviet world, India’s foreign policy in West Asia has shifted from a bi-directional to a tri-directional approach. Along with Saudi Arabia and Iran as two pillars, India has now accommodated Israel as a third pillar in its West Asian policy.
3. The 21st century has marked a welcome partnership between India and Israel and this needs to be further cultivated. Today, India stands as Israel’s number one customer for arms. However, in return, India gives vocal support to Israel which boosts its diplomatic and political approach, especially when more than 30 countries of the UN do not recognize Israel.

Conclusion

The dramatic changes in the relationship between India-Israel cannot go unnoticed. From cultural relation to defence and strategic relation, both the countries have grown to understand each other. Both the countries have gained independence from the UK within months. Israel has helped India with defence and national security whereas India has helped Israel in economic cooperation. And now India is the 10th largest trading partner of Israel. Both the countries have developed in science and technology and are now working together in matters of space technology. Both the countries have seen the ups and down together. Both have developed themselves from diplomatic partnerships to strategic partnerships.

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