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 Israel’s international stature in the world’s 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

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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 India’s 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 Israel’s 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 Non-Alignment 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.

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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.

India’s relations with Jews in history

India’s 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 India’s 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,

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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 India’s 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.

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At the time of India’s 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-India’s 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 1970’s, 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 Israel’s 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

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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 India’s foreign policy. Bhartiya Janata Party led NDA government made security doctrine of anti-terrorism a as the prominent bulwark of Indo-Israel 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

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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 India’s 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.

India’s Home Minister L. K. Advani visited Israel in mid 2000 along with the heads of India’s 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)

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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 “India’s 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

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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 China’s 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

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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 1970’s without any publicity and was mainly one sided in terms of India’s 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 Weizman’s visit to India in 1997 first weapons deal between the two nations was negotiated involving the purchase of Barak-1 vertically-launched 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, laser–guided 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 India’s apprehension of reaction of Arab states and Indian Muslims.21 India purchased 50 Israeli drones for $220 million in 2005 and bought military

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equipment worth $1.6 billion just in 2006. India’s Recent Defence Purchases from Israel include; Artillery Guns; Battlefield surveillance radars for artillery and infantry; fast attack naval craft Super Davora–2; 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,

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India signed a $1.1 billion agreement with Israel to provide an advanced 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, India’s 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 anti-insurgency 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 India’s defence forces and intelligence gathering techniques suggest that expanse and depth of strategic relationship between the two countries.

Trade and investment

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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 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.

Israel’s involvement in India’s agro-sector has grown as both nations recognize its potential benefits. India has consistently sent delegations to Israel’s triennial Agritech --one of the largest agro-technology exhibitions in the world. As a result of such contacts, Israel’s 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

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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 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 Aviv-based company that provides irrigation solutions for agriculture and

landscaping, sold equipments worth $500 million in 2007 and in 2008 India became Netafim’s 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 Indo-Israel Joint Committee of scientists was constituted with Secretary

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Department of Science and Technology, Government of India as its Co-chairman.

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

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countries exchange students through scholarship and promote joint university initiatives, to enhance bilateral cooperation.27

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

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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 the Gulf of Aqaba --the Red Sea arm of the Indian Ocean. Most of Israel’s adversaries --be it Arab states, Iran, or Pakistan-- are located on the Ocean littoral. Therefore Israel’s 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.

Pakistan’s growing missile and nuclear weapon technologies are main concern to Israel and India. Pakistan is a supplier of intermediate-range 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

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serious threat by Israel.29 Concern also emanates from Pakistan’s increasing defense cooperation with Iran, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Yemen and GCC countries that heavily rely on Pakistani forces. Many defence 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. India’s 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

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political party in power. No major political party or even community in India today opposes closeness between India and Israel.

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 Nehru’s 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.

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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%; 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/israeli-public-relations-firm-asks-how-do-you-feel-about-us-really2. 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.2706. 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

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Withers." The Washington Post, August 27, 2007; “The Virtual Jewish History Tour- India”, 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; Mandalia, Sejal, “Indian Jews in Israel”, available at, http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/36-19039.aspx

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, “India–Israel 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 Sharon’s Indian Visit: Historical Perspective”, South Asia Analysis Group, Paper no. 782, dated September 9, 2003.

16. “Historic Hindu Jewish Declaration”, available at, http://www.millenniumpeacesummit.com/Hindu-Jewish_Summit_Information.pdf

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.

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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. 164.22. Sud, Hari, “Israel's military supplies to India”, Asian Defence, February 28, 2009, available at, http://theasiandefence.blogspot.com/2009/02/israels-military-supplies-to-india.html; William, Michael, “Israel as big supplier of weapons to India”, Pakistan Observer e-paper, at, http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=3822123. See, “India and Israel to strengthen defence relations”, at, http://www.8ak.in/8ak_india_defence_news/2009/12/india-and-israel-to-strengthen-defence-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-in-india; 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-in-chennai/134095.shtml27. 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/

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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/

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