India-Israel Relations

In Context

• The bilateral relations between India and Israel have been improving in agriculture, defence and cybersecurity.

India-Israel Relations

• Diplomatic Relations:
  • India officially recognised Israel in 1950. Soon after, Israel established an immigration office in Bombay which was later converted into a Trade Office and subsequently a Consulate. 
  • However full diplomatic relations were established only in 1992 and Embassies were opened.
• Economic and Commercial Relations:
  • The bilateral merchandise trade grew from USD 200 million in 1992 to USD 6.35 billion (excluding defence) during the period 2021-2022, with the balance of trade being in India’s favour.
  • India is Israel’s third-largest trade partner in Asia and seventh largest globally.
  • In recent years, bilateral trade has diversified into several sectors such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, IT and telecom, and homeland security.
  • Israeli companies have been instrumental in transferring technology to India in areas like renewable energy, telecom, water technologies. Many of them have also set up R&D centers in India.
  • The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries is also on cards.
• Defence Cooperation:
  • India imports critical defence technologies from Israel. There are regular exchanges between the armed forces. 
  • There is cooperation on security issues, including a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism. 
  • Indian armed forces use Israeli Phalcon AWACS (Airborne Warning And Control Systems), Heron drones to Barak anti-missile defence systems.
• Cooperation in Agriculture:
  • A three year joint work program has been signed between the two countries in 2021 for development in agriculture cooperation.
  • It is aimed at establishing Centers of Excellence, intensifying value chains  and encouraging private investment.
  • India has benefited from Israeli expertise and technologies in horticulture mechanization, orchard and canopy management, micro- irrigation and post-harvest management.
  • Israeli drip irrigation technologies and products are now widely used in India. Some Israeli companies and experts are providing expertise to manage and improve dairy farming in India through their expertise in high milk yield. 
• Science & Technology:
  • The two countries have established a Joint Committee on S&T, established under the S&T Cooperation Agreement signed in 1993. 
  • India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F) has been set up to secure cooperation between the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, and the Israel Innovation Authority, Government of Israel to promote, facilitate and support joint industrial R&D projects.
    • It will address the challenges in the agreed ‘Focus Sectors’. 
• Energy:
  • Tamar and Levianthan gas fields off the coast of Israel were explored recently and India has been one of the first countries to bid for an exploration license in order to extract and import natural gas from the fields.
  • India’s ONGC Videsh, Bharat PetroResources, Indian Oil and Oil India were awarded an exploration license by the Israeli government, a clear sign of the ongoing diversification in ties between the two countries.

Reasons for Evolving Engagement

• Both countries have come a long way from policy of estrangement to engagement primarily because of:
  • Kashmir question: West Asian countries have strongly supported Pakistan on Kashmir issue so Israel came across as the natural partner.
  • Abraham Accord: Signed in 2020 amongst USA, Israel and UAE to normalise the relations between Israel and the west Asian countries. 
    • Subsequently, Bahrain, Jordan joined too. The engagement process is still on.
  • Oslo Accords: The 2 state solution was tried to be achieved with both parties Israel and Palestine signing two subsequent accords in 1993 and 1995 respectively. 
    • With direct parties in the conflict coming to peace, India has shed its inhibition of having increasing cooperation with Israel.
  • Strategic convergence: Both countries have converging interests ranging from anti terrorism, agriculture, defence needs to tech transfers.
  • Strategic autonomy: India’s foreign policy initiated with the principle of Non-Alignment has evolved into strategic autonomy which has given it enough diplomatic room to engage with countries from opposite camps as per its needs without upsetting the other camp.
  • India’s defence requirement: With the fall of Soviet Russia, it was an imperative for India to diversify its armament supplies. In doing so it found Israel as a natural partner.

Recent Developments

• UNGA Resolution, 2017: India voted against the recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel.
• UNHRC Resolution, 2018: India voted in favour of a resolution condemning use of israeli forces against the Palestinians.
• UNHRC Resolution, 2021: India abstained from voting in a resolution intended to set up a  permanent commission to probe human rights violations in Gaza, West Bank and Palestine.
  • Despite India voting against Israel in the UN or abstaining from voting in favour of Israel, both countries have leveled up their engagement since 1992. 
• Pegasus row: It is spyware software manufactured by a private Israeli company. The news of Pegaus being used in India created a public uproar. 
  • Geo-strategic experts are of the view that the row won’t affect the India-Israel relationship as it’s the consenting governments who buy the software for their internal and external security.
• Abraham Accord: The accord has normalised the relations between many west Asian countries and Israel. 
  • It has given India a diplomatic leeway to enhance its engagement with Israel.

Pegasus Row

• Pegasus is a spyware manufactured by NSO Group, a private company based in Israel.
• It is a malicious software which infects the target mobile phone/laptop without any click on the links and monitors the activity of the host.
• The company said in the statement that it sells the product to the governments and with Israel defence exports council approval. It also said that the Pegasus is intended to fight terrorism.
• Human Rights activists have alleged that the states have been using the software to target vocal journalists, human rights watchdogs and the civil society.

Way Forward

• P2P contact: Despite increasing bonhomie between the two states, the people to people contact still lacks. Increased citizens engagement will give further depth to the relations between the two countries.
• Bigger trade volumes: Though the trade volumes between the two countries have been increasing year on year, still it’s much below its potential level. FTA should be executed soon and the trade basket must expand.
• Striking balance: Though Israel comes across as a natural partner, India should also be concerned about the human rights issues in Palestine. So far, India has been able to balance its geostrategic needs and international morality.
• China and Israel: Of late China’s engagement has been continuously growing with Israel primarily for the latter’s technology. India should be proactive in evolving its partnership with Israel from hereon.

Source: TH