Israel, Palestine and India

Intro: From Mediterranean to Indian ocean, only two countries hold an impeccable record of being a democracy, India and Israel.

India wanted a federal Palestine in 1947 and a not a full fledged state of Israel. Infact India voted against admitting Israel in UN in 1948( the only time when India has voted against entry of any country in the UN)
Subsequent support to Pakistan from Arab nations made India to recognize Israel in 1950.
From 1950 to 1992 “the time is not right” attitude delayed the establishment of formal diplomatic relations with Israel.
embassies were opened in 1992 with full establishment of diplomatic relations .
Initially it was said India was trying to be more Catholic than the Pope
Ties were upgraded to strategic partnership in 2017.

Robert Putnam’s two level game theory wherein India also takes into account the interests of its large minority population when negotiating with Israel and Palestine
India’s policy with Israel has two pronged approach-bilateral and multilateral. At the bilateral level India launches Israeli spy satellites,at the multilateral level India criticizes Israel’s and annexation in West Bank
Vajpayee had called Israel as India's natural ally
Cooperation

$6 B bilateral trade
Indian companies like sun pharma,TCS, Infosys have substantial presence in Israel.(Growing economic interdependence b/w the two countries. )
Growing ideological convergence. Both face threat of terrorism in their neighborhood.
Israel has improvised lots of American and Russian weapons over the years Because of American arms supplies and Russian arms captured in battlefields. Hence Israel can provide lots of offensive and defensive capabilities to Indian establishment
Nicholas Blarel in his book the evolution of India's Israel policy says structural differences between Israel and India’s national security considerations, world views (notably on Iran) and the absence of explicitly shared enemies limit any stronger strategic rapprochement.
Recently India voted with Israel against a resolution aiming to give Palestinian NGO “shahed”, a consultative status at UNECOSOC
India abstained from voting in UNHRC against Israel on HR violations in Gaza
Current govt has followed a strategy of “dehyphenation” of Israel and Palestine and taken forward bilateral relations with each state individually.
This shows India’s shift from normative posturing in the region to embracing pragmatism and realist assessment of the contemporary world order.

Conclusion: Netanyahu- IT*IT=I2T2 (Israeli technology and India's talent equals India Israel ties for tomorrow.)

Intro- India’s support for the Palestinian cause is an integral part of its foreign policy.
In 1937, INC called for its support to Palestinian movement.
Gandhi said that Palestine belongs Arabs, in the same manner as England belongs to English and France belongs to French.
In 1974 India became the first non-Arab state to recognise Palestinian liberation Organisation as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. In 1988 India became one of the first countries to recognise the state of Palestine. India also has a representative office in Ramallah.
Context:

In UNGA India voted against the construction of the separation wall by Israel in 2003
In 2011 India voted in favour of providing Palestine as full member of UNESCO.
India supported the Bandung declaration on Palestine in as well as supported the installation of the Palestinian flag at the UN premises in 2015.
In 2015, First presidential visit from India to Palestine took place.

INDIA VOTED IN FAVOUR OF A RESOLUTION DEMANDING AN INQUIRY WRT VIOLENCE IN GAZA.
INDIA VOTED AGAINST US SPONSORED RESOLUTION DECLARING JERUSALEM AS THE CAPITAL OF ISRAEL
India not supportive of Israel’s annexation of west bank and Gaza.
India has built mahatma Gandhi library and Nehru library, schools , vocational training centers in Palestine.
India has pledged to contribute $5M to UN Relief work for Palestinian refugees in
PM Modi was awarded highest civilian honour of Palestine- Grand collar of the state of Palestine.”
Money through IBSA was allotted for projects in Palestine.
ITEC scholarships for Palestinian nationals
$46M of bilateral trade

UNSC resolution 1365 and The Arab peace initiative of 2002 can serve as a way ahead for substantial integration of Israel in the west Asian region. The initiative talks about recognition of Israel if it gives up claims on the Palestinian territory.
conclusion: India calls for a ‘Sovereign, independent, united and viable Palestine, existing peacefully with Israel’

Class Notes 4 You