Geopolitics

The normalization of relations between India and Israel: II
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Issue Book Excerpt: Rising India | Date : 16 Nov , 2010

The way in which the decision of India’s government to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel materialized and was published was surprising. The announcement was made in New Delhi by the foreign secretary J. N. Dixit not only at a special media conference but also a few short hours before Prime Minister Narasimha Rao was to have taken off for the United States. Only two weeks earlier, India had announced that its establishment of full diplomatic relations with Israel was conditional upon its withdrawal to the U.N. separation plan boundary of 1947. But the purpose of Rao’s visit to the United States was to increase America’s economic and military aid to India. He most likely believed that the establishment of relations with Israel would improve India’s image in America and facilitate the approval of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank of the aid which India so crucially required.

The Indian Perspective

The Indian perspective on the above events differs slightly from that of the Israeli. A detailed description appears in the memoirs of Secretary J. N. Dixit, who was involved in the entire process and unrivalled in his qualification to portray India’s perception of the issue.

In his memoirs he details the historic, strategic and economic factors which bound India and the Arab states, and then explains that three important developments caused India to establish diplomatic ties with Israel: first – the Gulf War of 1991; second – the general attitude of the Arab states toward the problem of Kashmir; and, third – the conclusion of a peace agreement between the PLO and Israel.6

A Story of Success – in Tribute to M. L. Sondhi

On February 12, 1992, Israel’s foreign ministry notified India’s foreign ministry that its consul in Bombay, Giora Becher, had been appointed temporarily to Israel’s embassy in New Delhi. Preparations were begun for the orderly establishment of cooperation between the two countries.

When speaking of ties between India and Israel, the towering image immediately arises of a wise and courageous man ““ M. L. Sondhi ““ who, for dozens of years, worked tirelessly for the full normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Two interesting phenomena became apparent after the establishment of diplomatic relations: first – contrary to the long-held belief, which had so influenced India’s policy, that India would suffer angry reactions from the Arab states if it were to establish such ties, it transpired that no negative reactions were received from them; and, second – in a similar vein, though, until the last moment, it seemed as if India would not risk invoking the anger of its large Muslim minority by improving its ties with Israel, no significant protest whatsoever was heard from India’s Muslims,7 when Prime Minister Rao nevertheless decided to establish diplomatic relations with Israel.

What followed, is well known. Within a short time an excellent relationship developed between India and Israel in many realms. Among many in Israel and apparently in India as well, the feeling prevails that the years of non-relationship were a somewhat abnormal phenomenon, and that the present situation is the normal one – which should have existed from the outset.

There is still much to be done to strengthen the ties between the two countries. It seems that, of all realms, there is one very important one that has been neglected – cultural ties. It is to be hoped that both governments, as well as non-government organizations in both countries, will initiate the strengthening of ties in this realm. As for the political-diplomatic realm, the lingering residue of the long years of separation still needs to be overcome.

When speaking of ties between India and Israel, the towering image immediately arises of a wise and courageous man – M. L. Sondhi – who, for dozens of years, worked tirelessly for the full normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He worked almost single-handedly, with persistence and consistency, even during the most difficult periods of official Indian hostility toward Israel. The advice I and my colleagues received from him contributed substantially to the process of normalization. It is doubtful if things would have developed at the same time in a similar fashion without him. It is incumbent upon all of us who believe in the fostering of close ties between the two countries, both in India and in Israel, to honour his memory and to preserve his heritage.

Notes

  1. J. N. Dixit, My South Block Years. Memoirs of a Foreign Secretary, UBS Publishers Distributions Ltd., New Delhi, 1996.
  2. Isi J. Liebler, Winds of Change in the Asia-Pacific, World Jewish Congress, December 1991, pp. 5-12; Report of World Jewish Congress Mission to Pakistan, February 12-16, 1993 (Isi Leibler and Bruce Wolpe), World Jewish Congress, Melbourne, February 1993, p. 6.
  3. The Times of India, Telegraph, Independent, National Herald, July 1, 1991; The Times of India. The Business and Political Observer, Statesman, Hindustan Times, Hindu, Indian Express, Dr. Maqsudul Hasan Nuri, “The Indo-Israel Nexus”, July 2, 1991; Regional Studies. Vol. XII, No. 3, Summer 1994, pp. 31, 40.
  4. Observer, July 4, 1991 (Vichitra Sharma: “Israel Expects India to take Initiative in Opening Ties”); The Times of India, July 5, 1991.
  5. The Times of India, January 25, 1992, “Israeli Terms on India’s Role”; Free Press; The Journal; Pioneer Hindustan Times, January 22, 1992; see also: Dr. Maqsudul Hasan Nuri, “The Indo-Israel Nexus”, Regional Studies, Vol. X11, No. 3, Summer 1994, p. 10.
  6. J. N. Dixit, My South Block Years. Memoirs of a Foreign Secretary, UBS Publishers Distributions Ltd., New Delhi, 1996, pp. 309-312.
  7. India Abroad, April 3, 1992 (Tarum Basu: “India-Israel Official Level Talks”); Saeed Naqvi, “Where is the Indian Ambassador to Israel?” The Pioneer, April 4, 1992.
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About the Author

Moshe Yegar

Moshe Yegar, Former Ambassador and Assistant Director General, Head of the Hasbara Department and Head of the Asia-Africa Department in the Foreign Ministry of Israel.

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