The Delicate Balance: Israel and India's Foreign Policy Practice

Abstract

India's foreign policy interactions with Israel are marked by a political discreetness which is in contrast to its prominent political engagement with the Palestinians and countries of the Arab world. India plays down its robust defence engagement with Israel, censures Israeli policies regarding the Palestinians, supports Palestinian-related resolutions at multi-lateral forums like the UN, differs strongly from Israeli policy on issues such as Iran's nuclear programme while being opposed to the possibility of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons capability. This policy has expanded the space for India to pursue its foreign policy and national interest goals, as attested to by the robust political and economic interaction with the Palestinians and the Arab countries, and rising defence and economic engagement with Israel despite certain domestic constituencies opposed to such a partnership. However, the limitations of such a policy include the minimal role that India has been able to play in the Middle East peace process, ‘diplomatic heartburn’ of an ally deeply involved in the security sphere—as is evident in the Israeli reaction to the Indian stance on the Goldstone report, for instance—and limited ‘comfort zones’ if crisis situations arise. Greater political engagement could be a bulwark against such tendencies and also provide important opportunities to convey India's concerns regarding the Palestinians more forcefully.

Notes

1. Remarks by Indian ambassador to Israel, Navtej Singh Sarna, 10^th IDSA–BESA Bilateral Dialogue, BESA Centre, Bar Ilan University, Israel, 11 April 2011.

2. For an examination of the strategic context underpinning the ties, see Efraim Inbar, ‘The Indian–Israeli Entente’, Orbis, Winter 2004, pp. 89–104; see also P.R. Kumaraswamy, ‘India and Israel: Emerging Partnership’, Journal of Strategic Studies, 25(4), 2002, pp. 192–206.

3. ‘India, Israel Vow to Enhance Cooperation in Combating Terror’, February 19, 2010, at http://www.zeenews.com/news605300.html (accessed April 10, 2010).

4. Joint statement available at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=55036851 (accessed March 30, 2011).

5. This section has benefited from valuable comments by Dr. G. Balachandran.

6. Rajya Sabha, Unstarred Question, No. 4481, ‘Defence Deals between India and Israel’, May 16, 2007, at http://164.100.47.5/qsearch/QResult.aspx (accessed April 28, 2011).

7. ‘Rafael Lines up $1.8 Billion India Deal’, March 2011, at http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2011/03/29/Rafael-lines-up-18-billion-India-deal/UPI-51661301420599/ (accessed April 28, 2011).

8. Lok Sabha, Unstarred Question, No. 3865, ‘Joint Development of Missiles’, December 14, 2009, at http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/psearch/QResult15.aspx?qref=77880 (accessed April 21, 2011).

9. Sabha, ‘Defence Deals between India and Israel’.

10. ‘Out of Rs 833-cr Ceal, Israel's Elta to Invest 250 cr in India’, December 21, 2006, at http://www.indianexpress.com/news/out-of-rs-833cr-deal-israels-elta-to-invest-250-cr-in-india/19033/0 (accessed April 28, 2011); see also M. Somasekhar, ‘Astra Microwave Looks to Tap Export Market’, May 11, 2009, at http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2009/05/11/stories/2009051151270300.htm (accessed April 29, 2011).

11. Sabha, ‘Joint Development of Missiles’.

12. See ‘Phalcon AWACS’, at http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/aircraft/phalcon/Phalcon.html (accessed September 22, 2009).

13. Rajya Sabha, Unstarred Question, No. 1098, ‘Procurement of Surveillance System from Israel’, August 2, 2000, at http://164.100.47.5/qsearch/QResult.aspx (accessed April 28, 2011).

14. Lok Sabha, Unstarred Question, No. 271, ‘Procurement of Defence Equipment’, October 20, 2008, at http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/psearch/QResult14.aspx?qref=66573 (accessed April 24, 2011).

15. Jeremy Kahn, ‘Critics Slam India-Israel Defence Ties’, February 25, 2008, at http://www.jta.org/news/article/2008/02/25/107188/indiaisrael (accessed April 28, 2011).

16. Mr. Antony was probably referring to the blacklisting of firms like the Israel Military Industries (IMI) since May 2009 by the ministry of defence for allegedly taking kickbacks in the supply of equipment for the Nalanda Ordnance Factory. Rajya Sabha, Unstarred Question, No. 1582, ‘Corruption in Defence Deals with Israel’, November 24, 2010, at http://164.100.47.5/qsearch/QResult.aspx (accessed April 28, 2011); see also Lok Sabha, Unstarred Question, No. 1725, ‘Defence Deals with Blacklisted Companies’, March 7, 2011, at http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/psearch/QResult15.aspx?qref=102474 (accessed April 20, 2011).

17. Rajya Sabha, Unstarred Question, No. 1105, ‘JV with Israel for Production of Missiles’, August 22, 2007, at http://164.100.47.5/qsearch/QResult.aspx (accessed April 28, 2011).

18. Seema Sirohi, ‘The Secret Part of Indo-Israel Defence Ties Will Remain a Secret’, Outlook, February 18, 2008, at http://www.outlookindia.com/printarticle.aspx?236728 (accessed June 17, 2011).

19. ‘India, Israel Vow to Enhance Cooperation in Combating Terror’.

20. US Embassy Tel Aviv, ‘Codels Casey and Ackerman Meeting with Defence Minister’, Wikileaks, created 2 June 2009, released 28 November 2011, at http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/06/09TELAVIV1177.html (accessed April 28, 2011).

21. Lok Sabha, Starred Question, No. 58, ‘Change in Indian Foreign Policy’, July 7, 2004, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=55038030 (accessed March 28, 2011).

22. ‘Statement by the Official Spokesman on the Large Scale Demolition of Homes in the Rafah Palestinian Refugee Camp in Gaza by the Israeli Defence Force’, May 20, 2004, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=55037893 (accessed March 27, 2011).

23. This was in the joint statement issued after President Abbas's visit in October 2008.

24. See ‘Briefing by Official Spokesperson and JS (ESA) on Visits of Presidents of Seychelles and South Africa’, June 1, 2010, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=550315821 (accessed March 29, 2011).

25. Minister of state for external affairs Preneet Kaur, replying to Unstarred Question, No. 4698, ‘Blockade of Palestine’, Lok Sabha, December 8, 2010, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=550316876 (accessed March 28, 2011).

26. ‘Statement by Official Spokesperson on the Situation in Gaza’, December 27, 2008, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=530314593 (accessed March 29, 2011).

27. See ‘India Censures Israeli Strikes in Gaza’, The Hindu, March 15, 2011, at http://www.thehindu.com/news/the-india-cables/article1538202.ece?mstac=0 (accessed April 21, 2011).

28. See ‘Official Spokesperson's Statement on Situation in Gaza’, December 29, 2008, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=550314596 (accessed March 29, 2011).

29. ‘Dep FM Ayalon Comments on Human Rights Council Vote’, October 17, 2009, at http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/MFA+Spokesman/2009/Press+releases/Dep_FM_Ayalon_comments_Human_Rights_Council_vote_17-Oct-2009 (accessed April 7, 2011).

30. See ‘Human Rights in Palestine and Other Occupied Arab Territories’, at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/docs/UNFFMGC_Report.PDF (accessed April 7, 2011).

31. See ‘India Express Reservations on Goldstone Report’, November 2009, at http://www.zeenews.com/news576234.html (accessed April 7, 2011).

32. Richard Goldstone, ‘Reconsidering the Goldstone Report on Israel and War Ccrimes’, April 1, 2011, at http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/reconsidering-the-goldstone-report-on-israel-and-war-crimes/2011/04/01/AFg111JC_story.html (accessed April 5, 2011).

33. ‘Behind the Headlines: The Goldstone Report Refuted—by Goldstone Himself’, April 3, 2011, at http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Behind+the+Headlines/Behind-The-Headlines-The-Goldstone-Report-Refuted%E2%80%93By-Goldstone-Himself-3-Apr-2011.htm (accessed April 5, 2011).

34. Editorial, ‘Goldstone's Continuing Value’, The Hindu, April 6, 2011, at http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/06/stories/2011040650981000.htm (accessed April 7, 2011).

35. See ‘Visit of Special Envoy of President of the Palestinian National Authority’, August 24, 2011, at http://www.mea.gov.in/mystart.php?id=550318098 (accessed September 6, 2011).

36. See ‘Speech by MOS (EA) at International Solidarity Day with Palestinians’, January 28, 2011, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=530117115 (accessed January 28, 2011).

37. Ibid.

38. ‘India to Vote in UN for Palestinian State in September’, August 11, 2011, at http://www.wafa.ps/english/index.php?action=detail&id=16960 (accessed September 6, 2011).

39. ‘UN Vote on Israel Will Destroy Everything: Israel’, April 4, 2011, at http://www.indiareport.com/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/1024575/International/2/20/2 (accessed April 7, 2011).

40. Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu, ‘Peres Rails Fatah-Hamas Agreement as “Fatal Mistake”’, April 29, 2011, at http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/143755 (accessed April 29, 2011).

41. ‘US Vetoes UNSC Resolution on Israeli Settlements’, PTI, February 19, 2011, at http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article1471249.ece (accessed April 20, 2011).

42. Colum Lynch, ‘In Sharp Reversal, US Agrees to Rebuke Israel in Security Council’, February 16, 2011, at http://turtlebay.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/02/16/in_major_reversal_us_to_rebuke_israel_in_security_council (accessed April 20, 2011).

43. ‘US Vetoes UNSC Resolution on Israeli Settlements’.

44. See, for instance, ‘Intervention by EAM at the Ministerial Meeting of the NAM Committee on Palestine’, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, July 13, 2009, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=550315035 (accessed March 24, 2011).

45. Hasan Suroor, ‘Indian Support for UN Resolution on Israel Angered US’, March 25, 2011, at http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/article1569594.ece (accessed April 6, 2011).

46. See US Embassy Delhi, ‘Menon Says Ahmadinejad Played to Masses during India Visit’, Wikileaks, 1 May 2008, released 16 December 2010, at http://213.251.145.96/cable/2008/05/08NEWDELHI1194.html (accessed February 13, 2011).

47. Ibid.

48. See Rajya Sabha, Unstarred Question, No. 3122, ‘Vote against Iran’, December 17, 2009, at http://rsdebate.nic.in/handle/123456789/291324 (accessed February 14, 2011).

49. ‘In Response to Questions about Reports that Suggest the Imminent Use of Military Force against Iran’, July 14, 2008, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=530314072 (accessed February 14, 2011); for an examination of India's policy regarding the issue, see also S. Samuel C. Rajiv, ‘India and Iran's Nuclear Issue: The Three Policy Determinants’, Strategic Analysis, 35(5), 2011, pp. 818–834.

50. Arthur Rubinoff, ‘Normalization of India-Israel Relations: Stillborn for Forty Years’, Asian Survey, 35(5), 1995, p. 491.

51. See P.R. Kumaraswamy, India's Israel Relations, Columbia University Press, New York, 2010, p. 18; see also pp.138–162.

52. Sidharth Varadarajan, ‘When Jaswant Took Indian Politics to Foreign Shores’, The Hindu, September 16, 2005, at http://www.hindu.com/2005/09/16/stories/2005091606041100.htm (accessed April 28, 2011).

53. ‘Statement by Official Spokesperson on the Situation in Gaza’.

54. US Embassy Delhi, ‘India Balancing Relations with Israel and Hamas’, Wikileaks, 31 March 2006, released 15 March 2011, at http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2006/03/06NEWDELHI2227.html (accessed April 7, 2011).

55. Press briefing by official spokesperson, MEA, May 12, 2006, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=550311340 (accessed March 29, 2011).

56. Shalom Namaste, Israel Embassy, New Delhi, 6, March 2009.

57. Yaakov Lappin, ‘Time to End Violence’, August 18, 2007, at http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3439462,00.html (accessed April 27, 2011).

58. Ibid.

59. Debarshi Dasgupta, ‘Moonstruck: The US and Israel Try Some Iftar Diplomacy’, Outlook, at http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?261924 (accessed April 1, 2011).

60. See Hasan Suroor, ‘Israel's PR Offensive in India’, The Hindu, March 19, 2011, at http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/19/stories/2011031965681500.htm (accessed April 21, 2011).

61. ‘Sufism is the Only Tool to Retain Peace in World: Israel Ambassador’, The Times of India, September 3, 2010, at http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-09-03/jaipur/28232907_1_sufism-dargah-terror-threats (accessed April 5, 2011).

62. Itamar Eichner, ‘From India with Love’, April 3, 2009, at http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3696887,00.html (accessed April 25, 2011).

63. Suroor, ‘Israel's PR Offensive in India’.

64. See ‘Statement by H.E. Mr. E. Ahamed, Hon'ble Minister of State for External Affairs on Agenda Item: 17 & 18 “The Situation In The Middle East” & “Question of Palestine”’, UN General Assembly, 62^nd Session, November 30, 2007, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=550313421 (accessed March 27, 2011). See also Lok Sabha, Unstarred Question, No. 1681, ‘Attack on Flotilla’, August 4, 2010, at http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/psearch/QResult15.aspx?qref=90084 (accessed April 20, 2011).

65. See ‘PM's Interview with Saudi Journalists’, February 27, 2010, at http://pmindia.nic.in/saudi_journalists.htm (accessed April 21, 2011).

66. See ‘India Palestine Relations’, February 2011, at http://meaindia.nic.in/meaxpsite/foreignrelation/palestine.pdf (accessed April 5, 2011). See also ‘Shri E. Ahamed Leads the Indian Delegation to the International Donors’ Conference on Palestine Held in Paris’, December 18, 2007, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=550313462 (accessed March 27, 2011).

67. ‘Speech by MOS (EA) at International Solidarity Day with Palestinians’.

68. ‘Briefing Points by Official Spokesperson on the Meeting of the Consultative Committee on External Affairs’, December 12, 2007, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=550313445 (accessed March 29, 2011).

69. Text of the joint statement available at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=550314237 (accessed March 30, 2011).

70. It is worthwhile to note that the only other such positions instituted by the MEA/Government of India were with respect to crucial national interest issues such as the Indo-US nuclear deal and climate change negotiations. Ambassador Shyam occupied these positions until March 2010. He was also later sent as special envoy to Nepal in August 2010.

71. See the website of the Representative Office of India in Palestine, at http://www.roi-ramallah.org.ps/2010/india-palestine.html (accessed April 5, 2011).

72. Rajat Pandit, ‘Pranab Forced to Defer Israel Visit’, July 1, 2006, at http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-07-01/india/27793103_1_israel-visit-defence-ties-defence-projects (accessed April 5, 2011).

73. See ‘Statement on the Results of the Elections in Palestine’, January 28, 2006, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=550310789 (accessed March 27, 2011).

74. ‘India, US, Israel Need Not Fear the Coming Change’, February 5, 2011, at http://www.deccanchronicle.com/360-degree/india-us-israel-need-not-fear-coming-change-981 (accessed April 6, 2011).

75. Chinmaya Gharekhan, ‘Roadmap for a Two-state Solution’, April 18, 2011, at http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/18/stories/2011041851851000.htm (accessed April 21, 2011).

76. See ‘Statement by Special Envoy of India for West Asia and Middle East Peace Process, Ambassador Chinmaya R. Gharekhan on the Agreement Concluded between Israel and Palestinian Authority’, November 15, 2005, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=550310377 (accessed March 27, 2011).

77. See ‘Statement by Mr. Kapil Sibal, Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences of India at the Annapolis Conference to Promote Arab-Israeli Peace’, November 27, 2007, at http://www.indianembassy.org/prdetail682/--%09--statement-by-mr.-kapil-sibal,-minister-of-science-and-technology-and-earth-sciences-of-india-at-the-annapolis-conference-to-promote-arab-israeli-peace (accessed April 7, 2011).

78. See ‘India–Sudan Joint Statement’, October 22, 2003, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=55037273 (accessed March 30, 2011).

79. See ‘Joint Communiqué of the Ministers of IBSA on the Situation in the Middle East’, April 15, 2010, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=550315730 (accessed March 30, 2011).

80. See ‘Indo-Saudi relations’, at http://mea.gov.in/mystart.php?id=50044519 (accessed April 6, 2011).

81. ‘Riyadh Declaration: A New Era of Strategic Partnership’, February 28, 2010, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=550315608 (accessed March 27, 2011).

82. Harsh V. Pant, ‘Saudi Arabia Woos China and India’, Middle East Quarterly, Fall 2006, pp. 45–52, at http://www.meforum.org/1019/saudi-arabia-woos-china-and-india (accessed April 6, 2011).

83. ‘Briefing by Secretary (East) on President's Visit to UAE and Syria’, November 19, 2010, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=550316697 (accessed April 1, 2011).

84. The text of Mr. Tharoor's speech is available at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=530115559 (accessed April 7, 2011).

85. See ‘Inaugural Address by Minister of State for External Affairs Dr Shashi Tharoor at the International Conference Organized by Indo-Arab Economic Cooperation Forum & Institute of Objective Studies’, February 3, 2010, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=550315543 (accessed March 24, 2011).

86. ‘India Aims to Double Trade with Arab World’, February 8, 2010, at http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/article103096.ece (accessed April l7, 2011).

87. See Prasanta Kumar Pradhan, ‘Accelerating India's Look West Policy in the Gulf’, IDSA Issue Brief, February 3, 2011, at http://www.idsa.in/system/files/IB_IndiaLookWestPolicy.pdf (accessed April 6, 2011).

88. Ibid., n. 83.

89. Ibid., n. 87.

90. Jay Menon, ‘India, Saudi Arabia Plan Joint Naval Exercises’, April 4, 2011, at http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?topicName=india&id=news/awx/2011/04/04/awx_04_04_2011_p0-306103.xml (accessed April 6, 2011).

91. Ibid., n. 65.

92. US Embassy Riyadh, ‘Indian Charge in Riyadh on Saudi–Indian Relations’, WikiLeaks, 9 September 2009, released 18 March 2011, at http://213.251.145.96/cable/2009/09/09RIYADH1170.html (accessed April 7, 2011).

93. See Harsh V. Pant, ‘A Fine Balance: India Walks a Tightrope between Iran and the United States’, Orbis, Summer 2007. See also Sushil J. Aaron, ‘Straddling Faultlines: India's Foreign Policy towards the Greater Middle East’, CSH Occasional Paper No. 7, August 2003, at http://www.csh-delhi.com/publications/downloads/ops/OP7.pdf (accessed April 25, 2011).

94. Aaron, ‘Straddling Fautlines’, p. 95.

95. See M.K. Bhadrakumar, ‘India Seeks ‘Velvet Divorce’ from Iran’, November 5, 2008, at http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JK05Df01.html (accessed April 5, 2011).

96. Elliot Jager, ‘Limited Partnership’, August 16, 2010, at http://www.jewishideasdaily.com/content/module/2010/8/16/main-feature/1/limited-partnership (accessed April 5, 2011).

97. See P.R. Kumaraswamy, ‘Realism Replacing Rhetoric: Factors Shaping India's Middle East Policy’, The Round Table, 97(397), 2008, pp. 575–587.

98. See US Embassy Tel Aviv, ‘India Balancing Relations with Tel Aviv and Hamas’, Wikileaks, 31 March 2006, released 15 March 2011, at http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2006/03/06NEWDELHI2227.html (accessed April 7, 2011).

99. See ‘By Official Spokesperson and India's Special Envoy to West Asia Mr. C.R. Gharekhan’, March 3, 2005, at http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=55039072 (accessed March 30, 2011).