From Gandhi to Modi: Tracing India’s Evolving Ties with Israel and Palestine

The recent visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel, marked by a warm embrace with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, highlights a significant evolution in India’s foreign policy. Once a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, rooted in shared anti-colonial struggles and Mahatma Gandhi’s early principles, India’s relationship with both Israel and Palestine has undergone a remarkable transformation over the decades.

The Gandhian Legacy and Nehruvian Non-Alignment

In the early 20th century, Mahatma Gandhi voiced strong support for the Palestinian people, viewing the Zionist movement as a form of colonial expansion. This sentiment laid the groundwork for independent India’s foreign policy, which, under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, firmly aligned with the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and consistently advocated for Palestinian self-determination. For decades, India withheld full diplomatic recognition from Israel, maintaining strong ties with Arab nations and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), reflecting a moral and ideological commitment to oppressed peoples.

A Gradual Thaw: The Post-Cold War Shift

The end of the Cold War and the changing global geopolitical landscape in the early 1990s presented India with new opportunities and necessities. In 1992, India formally established full diplomatic relations with Israel, a pragmatic move driven by evolving strategic interests, particularly in defense, intelligence, and agricultural technology. This marked a pivotal moment, shifting India’s approach from purely ideological solidarity to a more balanced, interest-driven foreign policy.

Balancing Act: Pragmatism in the 21st Century

The turn of the millennium saw an acceleration of India-Israel cooperation, especially in areas like counter-terrorism, defence procurement, and advanced agricultural techniques. India emerged as a significant buyer of Israeli military hardware, while also benefiting from Israeli expertise in water management and agri-tech. Despite this growing partnership, India continued to reiterate its support for a two-state solution and maintained diplomatic engagement with Palestine, demonstrating a delicate balancing act to safeguard its broader strategic interests in the Middle East.

The Modi Era: An Overt Embrace

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure has ushered in a period of more overt and robust engagement with Israel. His 2017 visit was historic, marking the first time an Indian Prime Minister had visited Israel, notably without a simultaneous trip to Palestine. This symbolic gesture underscored a pivot towards a more direct, bilateral relationship with Israel, de-hyphenating India’s foreign policy from the Israel-Palestine conflict. The focus has been on deepening strategic ties, trade, and innovation, reflecting a foreign policy driven by national interest and a desire for closer collaboration with technologically advanced partners.

While the ‘Modi-Netanyahu embrace’ symbolizes a new chapter of warmth and strategic alignment, India has concurrently sought to reaffirm its commitment to the Palestinian cause, albeit with a more pragmatic approach. India’s evolving stance reflects its transformation into a global power with diverse strategic interests, navigating a complex geopolitical landscape where historical allegiances increasingly give way to contemporary necessities. The journey from Gandhi’s support for Palestine to Modi’s embrace of Netanyahu is a testament to the dynamic and multifaceted nature of India’s foreign relations.

Source: Original Article