Modi’s Israel Visit a New Era of Hindu-Jewish Unity

Why does a tiny besieged Nation, Israel, raises heartbeats of Indian Statesmen? Why are India-Israel aggressively romanticizing relationships, when India is overtly pro-Arab and Israel a hardcore anti-Muslim state?

The roots of India's anti-Israel stand goes 7 decades back when India and Israel got their independence in 1947 and 1948 respectively.

Just after independence from British, out of anti-British-American disposition, because of centuries of servitude, Jawaharlal Nehru, first prime minister of India moulded India into Pro-Muslim-Communist-Soviet state, while Israel became American surrogate in Middle East.

After decades of isolation from Israel under Nehru-Gandhi regime due to pro-Arab policy, Impotent India socialist government, after the collapse of USSR in late 1980s, keeled down to United States, and the route they chose was none other than - Israel.

When USSR failed to aid India against economic and military crisis during 1991-92, India felt obliged to bow down to US via appeasing Jewish state.

In-spite of dramatic shift in India’s foreign policy, as a Pakistan's closest ally, US, seemed reluctant to help India economically and militarily in early 1990s financial crisis, leaving India with only one time-tested option for advanced and affordable military technology- Israel.

Amid all odds, Indo-Israel ties began to gain some momentum during Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1998-2004), with then Indian foreign minister Jaswant Singh (2000) visiting Israel followed by first visit of an Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 2003.

However, all the advancements in bilateral relations made by BJP government were reversed with the return of UPA-1 (Left-Liberals) between 2004 and 2014. Nonetheless, imports of weapons and covert exchange of intelligence information continued.  

The string of bilateral visits has been resumed with the comeback of BJP government since May 2014, and has once again paved a way for rise of two pre-historic civilisations.

In last 3 years of Modi government, Indian home minister Rajnath Singh, President Pranab Mukherjee and foreign minister Sushma Swaraj have had been to Israel, while Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon visited India.

As we celebrate silver jubilee of Indo-Israel ties, let’s hope Narendra Modi’s 3-day visit (first by an Indian Prime Minister) to Israel starting from July 4 would take the Hindu-Jewish unity to greater heights to lead the world.

Indo-Israel Relations

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India and Israel relations have been kept secret since before its officials beginning in order to balance the international relations of both countries with appropriate politics and diplomacy. Even before the fall of Soviet Union it has been very good friend of India in all terms, but however, after USSR's collapsed both countries felt to extend officials hand of relationship in 1992, for their vested interest.

In 1971 and 1999 Indo-Pak war, Israel provided secret intelligence information to Indian forces, proved to be best friend when India needed it most.  Unfortunately both the countries have been prey of border disputes and terrorist backed by neighbouring countries since independence for many decades. Israel has emerged stronger per se learning from its past bitter experiences while India, even being such a big country, always failed to curb external violence.

Coming back on the point, however, even after fall of USSR, in order to maintain good relations with Russia, India has not stopped purchasing weapons from Russia, but had to opt to other sources also except USA as it would have proved to be bitter for India-Russia relations. Thus the option was obviously Israel. 

And now Israel is the second largest military partner of India after Russia. 

In 2003, for the first time Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visited India to extend the bilateral ties even further of weapons. However, although India maintained good relation with Israel but did not attempt to publicize it, due to Indian relations with Arab World and of course to allure the 15 percent of Muslim populations of the Country.

On one hand, Indian National Congress (INC), which ruled India for more than 60 years since independence have a secular image in country in order to protect Muslim Vote Bank and maintain good relations with Arab World did not try to establish relations with Israel. But it was also during their tenure that India-Israel relations started in 1992. 

However, it was originally at the time of government of  Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee that the diplomatic relations got strengthened between both countries. The BJP government is considered to be backed by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) which is extremist Hindu nationalist group of India fighting for Hindu rights. 

Anyhow, after the return of BJP government after 10 years in 2014 the relations between countries are again seems to be strengthening.

Since RSS and BJP are the admirer of Israel and it will not be surprise if any Indian Prime Minister come to Israel for the first time in history.

Recently, Indian president Pranab Mukherjee visited Israel in October 2015 ( first by any Indian President) actually in order to pave the way for the median visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Israel with inviting Benjamin Netanyahu to India.

De facto visiting Israel may proved to be very crucial for India relations with Arab countries from where India purchase all crude oil and also millions of Indian work in these countries. But India is in itself has become big and strong country that it must not to be worried about other countries in its international diplomacy.