India-Israel relations: How did they go from acrimonious ties to strategic partnership? EXPLAINED – India TV News

As Hamas launched its deadliest attack on Israel, which claimed the lives of over 900 people on both sides, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, where the former extended his support to the Jewish nation in this moment of unprecedented crisis.

“I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. The people of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” wrote PM Modi on social media platform X.
On the day Hamas launched a barrage of rocket attacks towards Israel on Saturday daybreak, PM Modi had responded in a similar manner, terming the incursion as “terrorist attacks” and once again expressed solidarity with the country. The message was reposted by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar.
Since the creation of Israel in 1948, India's ties with the country as well as its arch-nemesis Palestine have gone through several changes, from not recognising the Jewish state to establishing close diplomatic relations and becoming a key trade partner.
Here's a look at how relations between India and Israel have evolved through the decades amid the latter's conflict with Palestine.
In 1948, a year after India's independence, the nation of Israel was formed when the United Nations called for the territory of Palestine to be split into Jewish and Arab states. Several Arab countries like Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and Syria opposed the creation and would eventually join forces against Israel in several wars later. 
In the post-independence era, former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi strongly opposed the creation of the Jewish state based on religious exclusivity and lent support to the Palestinian cause. Although they were sympathetic to the cause of the Jews, they opposed Israel in line with general consensus among Arab nations and its Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Hence, in 1947, India voted against the United Nations' plan for partition of Palestine and again when Israel voted for admission within the global body. However, India formally recognised Israel's sovereignty in 1950 after Turkey and Iran. Nehru said that he “did not want to “offend the sentiments of friends in Arab countries”.
Israel was permitted to open a consulate in Mumbai in 1953, but an official diplomatic presence in New Delhi was not allowed at the time. The relations remained largely informal as India maintained its support for Palestine. The Mumbai consulate served as the only gateway of contact between the two countries and sent Indian Jews to Israel.
India's large Muslim population and the fear of jeopardising relations with the Arab nations also prevented it from establishing full-fledged relations with Israel. Meanwhile, Nehru played an active role in supporting Palestine. Despite seeking Israel's help in the Indo-China war in 1962, the relations did not change to much extent.
Under former PM Indira Gandhi's regime, relations between India and Palestine entered a new phase. Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) shared a close relationship with Indira Gandhi and became a frequent visitor to Delhi in the 1980s.
India Tv - PLO leader Yasser Arafat with former Indian PM Indira Gandhi

Image Source : XPLO leader Yasser Arafat with former Indian PM Indira Gandhi

In 1975, India formally recognised PLO as the only legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and even opened an office in New Delhi. India further established full diplomatic ties with the PLO after Indira Gandhi returned to power by opening a Palestinian embassy in 1980. Arafat attended the NAM Summit held in April 1984 in New Delhi, which strongly expressed support for Palestine.
Arafat reportedly expressed grief at the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984. Her son Rajiv Gandhi continued the same policy towards Palestine even through the first intifada (uprising) in Gaza in 1987. India also officially recognised the Palestinian National Council's declaration of independence in 1988.
On the other hand, relations between India and Israel improved after the latter assisted in the India-Pakistan war in 1971, also known as the Bangladesh Liberation War. Israel would also assist India in the 1999 Kargil War several years later.
After the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, India witnessed a change in foreign policy and dilution of its previous non-aligned movement in the wake of the post-liberalisation period and New Delhi gradually tilted towards the US. As such, India formally established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992 under then-PM Narasimha Rao and opened an embassy in Tel Aviv, while Israel also opened up an embassy in New Delhi.
Arafat, who continued to visit India in the 1990s, was told that diplomatic relations between India and Israel would be helpful for the Palestinian cause. Israel went out to support Indian forces during the 1999 Kargil war with Pakistan, after which the bilateral ties became even stronger.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) proceeded to further strengthen relations with Israel, with PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee sending External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh for the first bilateral visit in 2000, followed by another visit by ex-Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani. Economic ties, defence collaborations and technological exchanges between India and Israel flourished in these times. 
The newly-established friendly relations with Israel also became a tightrope for India vis-a-vis its policy towards Palestine. India has maintained a neutral stance in the Israel-Palestine conflict and even condemned Israeli military actions in Palestinian territories. Overall, India has continued friendly relations with both Israel and Palestine till 2014, when PM Narendra Modi came into power.
Relations between India and Israel further flourished under PM Modi, who has maintained a close relationship with his Israeli counterpart Netanyahu. This culminated into a historic visit by the Prime Minister to Israel on July 2017, during which bilateral relations were upgraded to a strategic level and numerous Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) signed in the fields of cyber security, oil and gas cooperation, transport among others.
Former President Pranab Mukherjee also visited Israel in 2015, followed by a visit by ex-Israeli President Reuven Rivlin the next year. Both countries have expanded cooperation in the areas of trade, agriculture, culture and defence. In the time of major global shifts, the growing bonhomie resulted in Israel becoming the second-highlighted supplier of weapons and one of the largest trading partners of India.
Over the last few years, India and Israel have conducted several joint military drills and hosted exchange visits. After Netanyahu's visit in 2018, the ambit of India-Israel cooperation also included space, information sharing and counter-terrorism. Israel and India are part of the I2U2 group formed in 2021 and New Delhi has also abstained from many UN resolutions against the Jewish state.
One of the crucial aspects of India-Israel relations is the former's desire to modernise an ailing defence industry. India suffered from several constraints in defence production and Israel is the perfect nation to provide state-of-the-art technology such as UAVs, missile defence systems, radars and more.
Israel has also become a preferable destination for Indian students. As of now, Israel has around 18,000 Indian nationals, most of them working as caregivers employed by Israeli elders. Others include diamond traders, IT professionals and students. 
However, India has maintained its ties with Palestine as well – hosting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in 2017. PM Modi later achieved a complete dehyphenation of the ties with a visit to Palestine in 2018. The careful tightrope wall vis-a-vis Palestine has been done to avoid Israel's regional rivals.
Over the last decade, India has deepened ties with other partners in the Middle East, like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Iran. The latest attacks by Hamas in Israel may put India in a tight spot that threatens Indian diplomacy overtures.
Top News
Poll: After the EC’s appeal, will urban voters take part in large numbers in polls this time?
Akshay Kumar finally BREAKS his silence on being called ‘Modi bhakt’, his full statement here
IND vs AFG, World Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma breaks Chris Gayle’s record for most international sixes
Related India News
What is Hamas? How did it overwhelm Israel’s robust intelligence agencies in its deadliest attack?
Asian Games: Is China advertently trying to rob India of medals in Hangzhou? | Explained
Bihar caste survey: What are its findings and how will it impact poll outcome in 2024? EXPLAINED
Explained: Why Jyothi Yarraji’s medal was upgraded to Silver in women’s 100m hurdle event
EXPLAINED: What is Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu?
Latest News
IND vs AFG, World Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma breaks Chris Gayle’s record for most international sixes
Akshay Kumar finally BREAKS his silence on being called ‘Modi bhakt’, his full statement here
World Cup: Afghanistan cricketers wear black armbands to mourn lives lost following earthquake
Gujarat: Ahmedabad Police arrests man threatening to attack Narendra Modi Stadium
© 2009-2023 Independent News Service. All rights reserved.  
Aaj Ka Rashifal: From Aries to Pisces, know how will be your day from Acharya Indu Prakash
Super 100 : Watch Top 100 News of The Day
Superfast 200: Watch Top 200 News of The Day
Aaj Ki Baat: Israel will not stop until Hamas no longer exists?
Haqeeqat Kya Hai: Why did Congress support Palestinians?
Poll: After the EC’s appeal, will urban voters take part in large numbers in polls this time?
Andhra Pradesh: TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu gets anticipatory bail in Amaravati Inner Ring Road Case
Indian Air Force carries out successful test of surface-to-surface version of Brahmos
Union Cabinet gives nod to creation of ‘Mera Yuva Bharat’ autonomous body: Know all about it
Campaign underway to end AAP, says Arvind Kejriwal over continuous ED raids
Afghan pair of Azmatullah, Hasmatullah rewrite history books with record stand against India
IND vs AFG, World Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma breaks Chris Gayle’s record for most international sixes
World Cup 2023: Shubman Gill to rejoin team in Ahmedabad but remains doubtful for Pakistan clash
IND vs AFG World Cup 2023 Live Updates: Rohit Sharma-Ishan Kishan pair provides ideal start
Mohammad Rizwan dedicates Pakistan’s record chase vs Sri Lanka to ‘brothers and sisters’ in Gaza
Rajasthan poll date changed from November 23 to November 25 due to ‘large scale weddings’
Will continue to play Candy Crush: CM Baghel after BJP’s Malviya tweets his pic playing online game
BSP releases second list of 17 candidates for Chhattisgarh Assembly polls
‘There is excitement…’: Ex-CM Raman Singh on upcoming Assembly election in Chhattisgarh
Mizoram Assembly Election: ZPM announces Shanti Jiban Chakma as its candidate in Tuichawng
Pakistan confirms Pathankot attack mastermind Latif shot dead by unidentified gunmen in mosque
Jaishankar meets Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe as India assumed Vice Chair role of IORA
Israel-Hamas war: MEA sets up control room to provide information, assistance to Indians in Israel
104-year-old woman Dorothy Hoffner dies just a week after record skydive
Top Jain monk Lokesh urges United Nations to immediately stop barbaric acts against women, children
Akshay Kumar finally BREAKS his silence on being called ‘Modi bhakt’, his full statement here
Asha Parekh QUASHES Kangana Ranaut’s claims that Bollywood doesn’t have true friendships
Kalki 2898 AD: On Amitabh Bachchan’s 81st birthday, makers unveil FIRST look of the megastar
No patch up with Naga? Samantha puts rumours to rest – DEETS HERE
Amitabh Bachchan birthday: With garlands and chandan teeka, Big B greets fans post puja at Jalsa
IND vs AFG, World Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma breaks Chris Gayle’s record for most international sixes
IND vs AFG World Cup 2023 Live Updates: Rohit Sharma-Ishan Kishan pair provides ideal start
Afghan pair of Azmatullah, Hasmatullah rewrite history books with record stand against India
Nita and Mukesh Ambani host IOC president Thomas Bach ahead of 141st Session in Mumbai
Mohammad Rizwan dedicates Pakistan’s record chase vs Sri Lanka to ‘brothers and sisters’ in Gaza
Oppo Find N3 Flip launch event on October 12: Expected specs, price, and other details
OnePlus Open foldable phone: Launch details, expected price and features in India
Apple’s latest iOS 17.1 Beta 3 now available for testing: Check what’s new
Know how to enable emergency alert notifications on your Android smartphone
Bid farewell to passwords: Google introduces passkeys for secure sign-ins
India-Israel relations: How did they go from acrimonious ties to strategic partnership? EXPLAINED
What is Hamas? How did it overwhelm Israel’s robust intelligence agencies in its deadliest attack?
Asian Games: Is China advertently trying to rob India of medals in Hangzhou? | Explained
Bihar caste survey: What are its findings and how will it impact poll outcome in 2024? EXPLAINED
Explained: Why Jyothi Yarraji’s medal was upgraded to Silver in women’s 100m hurdle event
Horoscope Today, October 11: Pisces will follow path of spirituality; know about other zodiac signs
Horoscope Today, October 10: Happiness in family awaits Gemini, know about other zodiac signs
Weekly horoscope (Oct 9 to Oct 15): Scorpios need to focus on mental health; know about others
Horoscope Today, October 9: Relaxing day for Aquarius; know about other zodiac signs
Horoscope Today, October 8: Aries will be successful in business; know about other zodiac signs
World Sight Day 2023: Blinking to Eye Roll, easy exercises to improve eyesight and reduce strain
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis? Know causes, symptoms and importance of early diagnosis
12 essential nutrition tips for new mothers with diabetes; foods to eat and avoid
World Arthritis Day 2023: Know causes, symptoms and prevention tips for the disease
World Mental Health Day 2023: Know why support system is crucial for mental health

source

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top
Join Whatsapp Group!
Scan the code