India-Israel Ties: No “Right”, No “Left” on This One!

India-Israel Ties: No “Right”, No “Left” on This One!

Daniel Carmon

On the eve of the 2015 elections to Israel’s parliament, when serving as Ambassador of Israel to India, I was approached by a senior representative of the Indian government who enquired if the awaited results of the elections could affect the developing bilateral relations between both our nations.  My interlocutor was relieved, yet not surprised, with my decisive response:  there will be absolutely no changes in Israel’s attitude towards India, regardless of the results. To back my assessment, I pointed out several aspects of the relations – political, cultural, economic and strategic – which from Israel’s point of view are consensual in our political and popular circles.

Today, six years later, as a new administration takes over in Jerusalem, I continue to believe that the India-Israel growing partnership and friendship were, are, and will continue to be strongly established and supported within an Israeli consensus.  

Official India was amongst the first to embrace the new Israeli government, with warm messages from PM Modi and EAM Jaishankar to their new Israeli counterparts, via India’s vibrant Twitter Diplomacy. These signified not only a personal bond or traditional diplomatic Protocol, but also a recognition of the special relationships between the countries, their durability, depth and continuity.

A phone call between the EAM and his Israeli counterpart, FM  Lapid wrapped up the warm Indian “welcome embrace” to the new Government in Israel. These gestures reflect three decades of growing cooperation and partnership, with many success stories, in various fields of mutual interest: governmental and private sector endeavors in Agriculture, Water management, Trade, People to People Connectivity, Science, Technology, Health as well as Defense, Space, Homeland Security, Cyber cooperation and more. India qualifies Israel as one of its top valued “technological partners” with reciprocal benefits that can be drawn from them, for both our governments and peoples. The relations have been officially defined, since 2018, as a “Strategic Partnership”, for a very good reason.

I believe that the strategic significance of the India-Israel bilateral relations requires a “Nation-to-Nation Multi-Partisan approach”, in our respective countries, in order for our ties to strive and live up to their full potential, irrespective of the government in power in Delhi or in Jerusalem. Hence, the continued consensus within Israel towards India, following last week’s formation of the new Government. No “right”, no “left” on this one…

During my tenure in Delhi, I made it a point to reach out and nurture dialogues with representatives of as many political and social circles as possible. We were engaging with all factions of society including representatives of all political parties, national and state levels alike, in order to ensure that the growing partnership between both nations will be relevant for as many Indians as possible, nationwide, thus becoming durable.

As is the case with many instances of human interactions, even the most positive, friendly and cordial conversations, sometimes encounter areas of gaps and disagreements. Not surprisingly, in my interactions in India, questions relating to the Palestinians and to Iran were often subjects for frank discussions.   Yet, the multi-partisan outreach enabled wider circles in India to become familiar with the unique success stories of our mutually beneficial growing partnership, while, on the one hand, a better understanding – or at least gaining awareness of – Israel’s sensitivities and needs.

My continuous message to my official MEA interlocutors (and to others) was: Israel respects India’s traditional support to the Palestinian cause, as long as our bilateral relations are not affected. The landmark Indian Government ‘de-hyphenation’ policy, adopted openly by Delhi during the summer of 2014, was indeed all about leaving behind the old and outdated world of ‘zero sum game’, in favor of a more nuanced approach towards Israel and the Middle East.

This approach gives India wider room to manage and develop its much-needed partnership with Israel independently of its relations with the Palestinians. A very fine, delicate diplomatic balance is needed to be able to maintain, in tandem, both sides of this equation.

This fine balance was challenged in mid-2021, when the Hamas terrorist organization initiated, once again, a round of violent hostilities by launching, once again, barrages of thousands of rockets from Gaza towards Israel. Following terrorist organizations’ tradition, Hamas targeted civilian populations in Israel in an attempt to create havoc and destruction. Hamas also aimed, during the recent round of hostilities at challenging the internationally recognized leadership and role of the Palestinian Authority (PA) as representative of the Palestinian people. Since violently ousting the PA from Gaza in an actual Coup d’Etat, after the Israeli pullout in 2005, it has taken over the Gaza strip, practically built a “Hamastan”, defying the PA while rejecting the three conditions set by the international community’s quartet in 2010[i]. The latest round of violence a few weeks ago, must be seen also as part of an inner power struggle within the Palestinian camp.

Hamas, it should be emphasized, is not seeking any compromise with Israel, but openly declares that its strategic aim is to destroy Israel. The fact that Hamas is funded by Iran – another destabilizer of the larger Middle East and itself an enthusiastic supporter of the destruction of Israel – cannot be ignored. I can safely say the Hamas has ‘rightfully’ gained its designation, by some countries, as a terror organization.

During the latest round of violence, initiated by Hamas’ terror last May, many within the international community explicitly expressed themselves against Hamas and supported Israel’s right to self-defense against acts of terror. India, through its statements in New York and by abstaining in a vote in Geneva has implicitly acknowledged the distinction between “supporting the Palestinian cause” and the ongoing fighting at the time, emphasizing the rocket attacks from Gaza. No mentioning of Hamas or its use of Terror…

Without prejudice to its position on the larger Palestinian issue, and knowing that as far as Hamas is concerned,  next round of terrorist violence is inevitable, I would urge India to join many within the international community who have already designated Hamas as a terror organization. If history repeats itself during the next escalation, India should also condemn Hamas explicitly for using terror by indiscriminately launching rockets on civilian population, by using human shields and by operating near or from mosques, hospitals and schools. Such an action will reaffirm India’s leading role in the global fight against terrorism, without contradicting with Delhi’s traditional support of the Palestinian cause. It will also reaffirm Delhi’s commitment to the legitimate, internationally recognized representatives of the Palestinian People.  I dare say that India’s Palestinian counterparts, PLO and PA, who themselves are constantly challenged by Hamas, will appreciate such a move. So will other members of the international community.

India, always an important player on the international scene, bears nowadays a special responsibility as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. India, like Israel, is a victim of terrorism. Under the umbrella of the global fight against terrorism, India has assumed in the past a leadership role in a UN process of defining Terrorism. Our interests, when it comes to counter-terrorism are similar: Delhi, like Jerusalem, rejects the use of terrorism in any circumstances.

I feel that nowadays, the Israel-India bilateral relations are stronger than ever, safer and sounder as they spread over multi-disciplinary strategic interests, spanning from food and water security to defense, homeland security and anti-terrorism. The mutual interest in maintaining them is strong.

The reciprocal visits of the highest authorities, Presidents and Prime Ministers and their results, the essential stronger connectivity, the upgraded, multidisciplinary close cooperation in so many areas – the latest example being the COVID-19 cooperation – all depict a strong, sustainable bond between our nations. We have developed a very strong and frank relationship and have passed, with ‘flying colors’, the “tests” of friendship, confidence, discretion, visibility and credibility throughout the years.

Our joint achievements are tremendous. The potential for the future is huge. Our multi-facet partnership can benefit other countries as well, when using our respective comparative advantages, experience and know how. This, coupled with continued frank discussion on political issues at stake through “diplomatic channels”, will ensure sustainability and irreversibility of the bilateral relations, unaffected by the change of governments.

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Author

Daniel Carmon is former Ambassador of Israel to India from 2014-2018. He is presently Senior Fellow, at International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT), IDC Herzliya.

[i] The three principles/conditions outlined by the Quartet for the recognition of a Palestinian government were (1) renunciation of violence, (2) Recognition of Israel’s right to exist, and (3) a commitment to all agreements signed between PLO and Israel