R K SINHA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Israel visit beginning July 4 is important and historic. The visit assumes significance since this visit coincides when India and Israel are celebrating silver jubilee of their bilateral ties. Modi will be first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel although Modi had visited Tel Aviv earlier as chief minister of Gujrat.
Though it was in 1992 when India and Israel established full diplomatic relations, no Indian President or Prime Minister visited Israel till date. In 2003 Aerial Sharon the then Prime Minister of Israel had visited India. He was the first Israeli Prime Minister to visit New Delhi. It was Sharon who entered into bilateral trade and defense relations with India. Credit goes to him.
A New Beginning of Ties
In fact the ruling dispensations of the two countries share common philosophy of ‘nationalism’. The two nations share many things that are common. It holds the promise of better and strengthened relationship between India and Israel.
India under the then Prime Minster Jawahar Lal Nehru for his pronounced pro Muslims leanings had in in 1949 voted against Israel for inclusion in the United Nations Organization. But later Israel was admitted in the UNO. Very next year India had to recognize Israel as a sovereign nation. It was beginning of relationship between India and Israel. India recognized Israel on 15 September 1950. In 1951 Israel opened its first consulate office in Bombay now Mumbai. But India could not open is consulate office in Israel. It took more than 40 years to establish full diplomatic offices of Embassy of India and Israel and appoint Ambassadors in New Delhi and Tel Aviv. Israel’s office of its Embassy was opened in 192 and it was located on Barakhamba Road in Gopaldas Buildidng.
Arab World and Indian Muslims
Israel has maintained a sustained position as a true friend of India over the years. Although in the past India stood with the gulf countries but it did not get desired reciprocal favours from Arab world. The gulf countries always supported Pakistan vis a vis India. However, there is ostensible change an the policy and attitude of Arab countries after visit of Indian Prime Minister to those countries in the near past. Even Saudi Arabia is working on secret channels to establish ties with Israel.
The Muslim Factor
It is not an old story when India evaded establishing closer ties with Israel fearing Muslim backlash at home. Under the appeasement policy of the successive Congress Governments for the Muslim population of the country India sacrificed its diplomatic interests. Congress and the Left Parties are squarely to blame for this lopsided diplomacy. The supply of crude oil from the Gulf was another reason for a cool approach to Israel. But we did it at the cost of ignoring our national interests. We stood with Arab countries who supported and provided financial and other aides to Pakistan.
Neglecting the Jews
When our national interests were being undermined to appease the Muslims of the counry, then nobody bothered to care for the interests of the Jews living in India. There are six thousand Jews living in India today. They are living in this country for centuries. In the decisive battle with Pakistan in 1971 that created Bangladesh, the hero of the battle field was Lt Gen J F R Jacob. He was an Indian Jew. He was General Officer Commanding in Chief of Eastern Command of the Indian Army. Field Marshal Gen Sam Manekshaw was chief of the Army Staff then. Lt Gen Jacob’s role in the war was heroic. I wonder why we did not care to give importance to the Jews in India, may be because of Congress’ appeasement policy for the Muslims. The 1971 war with Pakistan was also historic for making largest number of Pakistani Armed forces to surrender before the Indian Army and making them Prisoners of War.
Steps towards Cooperation
Now both India and Israel are inching forward towards a better relationship. Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Yalun has said during his visit to India recently about the role of Israel in the field of defense supply to India. India has signed a number of Memorandum of Understanding with Israel in the field of agriculture, technology, defense industry, research and economy. In the field of micro irrigation projects, states like Harayana, Gujrat and Maharashtra stand to benefit largely from Israeli technology. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has toured Israel earlier.
A Friend in Need
Israel stood with India when we badly needed support in the time of war. Israel stood with India. It helped us even during the war of 1965 and 1971 that we fought with Pakistan. During the Kargil aggression too Israel helped India and reinforced our Army with supply of arms and ammunitions.
(The writer is a Member of Rajya Sabha)