GS Paper 2
Syllabus: International Relations
Context: This article is a continuation of Yesterday’s article on the Gaza conflict and its impact on India’s Foreign Policy
Diplomatic Relations: India recognized Israel in 1950. Full diplomatic relations were established in 1992. India is among 164 UN member states with diplomatic ties with Israel
Why the shift in India’s policy towards Israel in 1992?
1991 Oslo peace accord provided the foundation for two-state solutions (also backed by India). India’s shift in Israeli policy reflects a reevaluation of its stance in the Middle East. The change is prompted by a lack of reciprocal support from Arab nations in addressing regional issues, especially regarding Kashmir. India’s approach mirrors countries like Jordan, which maintains ties with both Palestine and Israel, providing greater diplomatic flexibility.
Additionally, India’s decision to de-hyphenate its relationship with Israel from its Palestinian ties allows for independent engagement. This shift offers India more autonomy in addressing its national interests and navigating regional geopolitics.
Various aspects of India-Israel Relations:
| Aspect | Details |
| Economic and Commercial | Bilateral trade increased from USD 5 billion to over USD 7 billion by January 2023. |
| Diamonds constitute around 50% of bilateral trade. | |
| India is Israel’s third-largest trade partner in Asia and seventh-largest globally. | |
| Israeli investments in India include energy, telecom, real estate, and water technologies. | |
| FTA negotiations are underway between India and Israel. | |
| Defence | India is a significant importer of Israeli weapons, accounting for about 40% of Israel’s annual arms exports |
| Indian armed forces use various Israeli weapon systems, including drones, missile defence, and more. | |
| The Joint Task Force was formed to develop a Ten-Year Roadmap for enhanced defence cooperation. | |
| Agriculture | A three-year work program agreement in agriculture cooperation was signed in May 2021. |
| Aims to develop Centers of Excellence (CoE) and increase their self-sufficiency while promoting private sector involvement. | |
| Israeli drip irrigation technologies and products are now widely used in India | |
| Science & Technology | Multiple MoUs signed between Israel’s Start-Up National Central and Indian entrepreneurship centres. |
| India-Israel Industrial R&D and Innovation Fund (I4F) expanded to include renewable energy and ICT sectors. | |
| I4F facilitates joint industrial R&D projects between Indian and Israeli companies. | |
| Energy | Israel joins the India-led International Solar Alliance (ISA) to promote renewable energy and clean energy partnerships. |
| Israeli Support for India’s Clean Ganga Mission | |
| Culture | Growing cultural ties, with festivals and events promoting art and music; a large number of Israeli tourists visit Pushkar annually |
| Education | Academic agreements between Indian and Israeli universities; Scholarships offered by both countries for students; Support from the Indian diamond community for Israeli students studying Hindi in India |
| Indian Diaspora | Approximately 85,000 Jews of Indian origin in Israel; Main waves of immigration in the 1950s and 1960s |
India and Israel have notable differences in various aspects:
| Aspect | Israel | India |
| Iran’s Perception | Israel views Iran as an existential threat. | India maintains a historical relationship with Iran and cooperates for energy supplies and strategic trade routes, such as the Chabahar port to Afghanistan and Central Asia. |
| Approach to Arab World | Israel inherently differs from Arab countries. | India has significant stakes in the Arab world, which influence its diplomatic decisions. |
| Stand on China | China is Israel’s largest trading partner in Asia, and both nations have strong technology and investment links. | India’s relationship with China is complex, with various geopolitical issues. |
| Relations with Pakistan | Israel is open to the possibility of relations with Pakistan. | India faces ongoing tensions and conflicts with Pakistan. |
| Technology Transfer and Trade | Differences exist between India and Israel regarding technology transfer, end-user agreements, and a proposed free trade agreement. | These issues are complicated by India’s ‘Make in India’ policy |
| Free Trade Agreement (FTA) | An FTA between India and Israel has faced challenges due to concerns from the Indian domestic industry | |
Conclusion:
Balancing the differences between India and Israel is a complex task. India must prioritize its national interests and remain flexible in its dealings with Israel. Maintaining apolitical ties with Arab countries and Israel is a positive step. Also, India must adopt a proactive Middle Eastern policy to capitalize on geopolitical shifts driven by the Abraham Accords.
Prelims Links:
The term “two-state solution” is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of (UPSC 2018)
(a) China
(b) Israel
(c) Iraq
(d) Yemen
Ans: B
