Leaving behind the baggage of history, India and Israel are set to further cement an already strong bilateral relationship
Last year, in July, Narendra Modi created history when he became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel, a tried and tested partner and a real ally to India. Photographs of Prime Minister Modi being welcomed with a grand official ceremony and warm embrace by his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu— displaying the warmth of the personal relations between the two leaders — made it clear that both nations not only value each other the most but are also committed to further strengthen and deepen an already strong bilateral relation.
It was a new development, one that was completely different from what had been followed during the previous regimes, who pursued the relationship rather ambiguously. Under successive Congress regimes, which carried forward Nehru's legacy in foreign affairs, relations with Tel Aviv was a roller coaster ride with the party's clandestine approach on strategic relations.
Israel has always been a friend in need for India, a notable such example is the India-China War of 1962. But acting under pressure of domestic politics, the Congress leadership, with the exception of PV Narasimha Rao, not only maintained a pro-Palestine approach, but had also been reluctant to make public admission about the policy of engagement with Israel.
The era of covert bilateral relations continued, ending only in 1992, when the then Indian Prime Minister PV Narshimha Rao moved forward and diplomatic relations were established between India and Israel. Relations thrived under the BJP regime and once again in the late 1990s, during the Kargil War, India received help from Israel in the form of defence equipment. But soon after the Lok Sabha election of 2004, when the UPA Government took charge under the leadership of the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, relations remained low. Situations continued the same in UPA II also.
Prime Minister Modi's visit, which happened in the year marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations of India and Israel, had a positive message in itself. Modi's visit changed the way India used to engage with Israel.
During his visit, Modi succeeded in bringing to the fore an underlying message that India would rally around with not only its own civilisational cores but rather would synthesise its global vision by fraternising with other civilisational entities who share a mutual admiration and face the common disruptive forces. His visit to Israel runs much deeper than mere diplomatic realignment based on instrumental utilities. It's the sharing of two civilisational sentiments that gel together seamlessly in their desired destiny to assert themselves at the global arena.
The many Memorandum of Understandings signed during the visit clearly show that both the countries are now moving beyond defence. Last year India-Israel agreed to establish a 'Strategic Partnership in Water and Agriculture'. Now, along with defence, they will also focus on water conservation, waste-water treatment and its reuse for agriculture, desalination and water utility reforms. Besides, Israel is all set to help India in one of the flagship projects of the Modi Government, the Namami Gange Programme, by helping in the cleaning of the Ganges along with other rivers, using advanced water technologies. India and Israel are going to embark on a three-year programme in Agriculture from 2018 to 2020.
The countries are also going to be partner in the area of space technology. During the visit, the importance of bilateral defence cooperation was also reaffirmed. And agreement was reached for technology transfer from Israel and joint development of defence products under the Prime Minister's 'Make in India' initiative.
Now, this year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on a five-day visit to India, that started yesterday. Besides New Delhi, he will be visiting Agra, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. The Israeli Prime Minister's visit will be interesting because of two recent developments. First, India's decision to vote in favor of a resolution that criticised the United States position regarding the Jerusalem and shifting of its embassy which made clear India's commitment to a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine crisis.
Second, the cancellation of $500 million deal to develop Spike, an anti-tank guided missile, with an Israeli arms firm Rafael. At present, Israel is India's third most important defence equipment and arms supplier only after the US and Russia. Also, on Israel's list, India ranks as a major arms importer with more than 40 per cent of its arms export.
Skeptics are already out there using these developments to prove that, in spite of all good developments that happened in recent years, relations are not as strong as it seems to be. And while the Israeli Prime Minister's visit will focus mainly on technology and terrorism, as is being said by sources, recent developments will certainly have a strong impact. But seeing the history of the bilateral relations and the commitment of the strong and visionary leadership of both the sides who have shown clear thinking of a stronger strategic partnership, there are fare chances that proving the skeptics wrong, Netanyahu's visit will further strengthen an already robust bilateral relationship.
(The writer is an expert on Central Asia, Jawaharlal Nehru University)