MODI’S ISRAEL VISIT: IMPLICATIONS FOR INDIA-ISRAEL RELATIONS: NISHIKANT THAKUR

MODI’S ISRAEL VISIT: IMPLICATIONS FOR INDIA-ISRAEL RELATIONS: NISHIKANT THAKUR

8-MARCH-ENG 11

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-----------------------------The Prime Minister's second visit to Israel has created a flurry of speculation in the country. Various speculations are being made, and the possibility of untoward events is being predicted. The Prime Minister's first visit in 2017 also caused uproar, but this year's visit is being seen as unnecessary. It is said that ethical actions undertaken with good intentions are not enough; they must also be done without pressure. The question is, what are the implications of this visit, and what benefits will the Indian public derive from it? Many have come to believe that we should behave according to the rules in matters that concern others; but as long as our actions are not related to others, we can behave as we please. Anyone who believes this speaks without understanding. No person living in this world can behave independently or without harm to himself.

Prior to his visit to Israel, the Prime Minister had conveyed to the nation that India and Israel have a strong and multifaceted strategic partnership, which has witnessed significant progress and dynamism in recent years. I look forward to my discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu with a view to further strengthening our cooperation in various areas, including science and technology, innovation, agriculture, water management, technology, defense and security, trade and investment, and people-to-people ties. We will also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. During this visit, I will also meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. I will also have the honor of becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset. This occasion will be a tribute to the strong parliamentary and democratic ties that bind our two countries. I also look forward to interacting with members of the Indian diaspora who have long strengthened the special India-Israel friendship. I am confident that my State visit will further strengthen the enduring ties between our two countries, set new goals for the strategic partnership, and advance our shared vision for a strong, prosperous future.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a two-day visit aimed at strengthening trade and defense ties. The visit has also drawn criticism in Israel. Describing PM Modi as "more than a friend," Netanyahu lavished praise on the Indian leader and thanked him for standing with Israel after the horrific attacks of October 7, 2023. PM Modi was among the first world leaders to condemn the deadly attacks carried out by Hamas, which killed nearly 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped nearly 250. Benjamin Netanyahu began his speech by saying, "Whenever Prime Ministers and Heads of State visit the Knesset (Israeli Parliament), it's always an exciting moment for all of us. But my dear friend Narendra, I am particularly touched by your visit. You are a great friend of Israel and a great leader on the world stage. Narendra, you are more than just a friend to me. You are my brother." The closeness between the two leaders has been widely discussed in Israel, and it was evident in the Knesset as well, where attendees and lawmakers embraced each other and stood up to applaud. However, the media did not report how Israeli opposition leaders walked out as soon as Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his speech. Well…! Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced this visit in December, indicating Israel's keen interest in hosting Modi. From Modi's arrival to his departure, Netanyahu personally escorted Modi everywhere. India recognized Israel as a sovereign nation on September 17, 1950. No Prime Minister had visited Israel since then. In July 2017, Narendra Modi became the first Prime Minister to visit Israel after nearly 76 years. This means that Modi broke the tradition of not visiting Israel. When Modi visited Israel in 2017, he broke diplomatic tradition and bypassed the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, barely a 30-minute drive from Netanyahu's Jerusalem compound. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 24-hour visit to Jerusalem was an important effort to strengthen bilateral relations with Israel, but proved to be a misstep on the Palestinian issue, which will have complex consequences for India's relations with West Asia. Following bilateral talks on February 26, the two leaders agreed to elevate relations to a "Special Strategic Partnership" and signed a significant technology partnership, including more than 15 MoUs in the fields of artificial intelligence, agriculture, culture, and education. They also agreed to facilitate the employment of 50,000 Indian workers in Israel over the next five years. This meeting, and Netanyahu's praise of Modi and relations with India, was even greater than during Modi's 2017 visit. The situation was intense. This is likely related to the timing of the visit, as Israel is increasingly isolated by the heavy loss of life in Gaza and Netanyahu's West Bank settlement plans. Last week, dozens of countries condemned Israel's West Bank proposals, including Germany, France, and Britain, which have so far adopted a restrained stance. Netanyahu faces elections later this year, which will be seen as a referendum on his tenure, including alleged corruption in his government, as well as his accountability for security lapses and civilian deaths in Israeli actions in 2023.

Modi's visit is expected to strengthen him politically. In his speech in the Knesset, Modi only indirectly mentioned Palestinian sovereignty and stated that the US-led Gaza Peace Initiative, which is committed to a two-state solution, is essential. The Prime Minister stated that India shares the pain and grief of everyone who lost their lives in the terrorist attack carried out by Hamas in October 2023, but he made no mention of the more than 72,000 people killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since then.

A significant criticism within the country is the rationale for Modi's visit to Israel after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants against the Israeli Prime Minister and his former Defense Minister, Yoav Galant, on charges of suspected war crimes in Gaza. Israel does not recognize the ICC's authority, and Netanyahu and Galant will not surrender, but their world has become much smaller. The International Criminal Court is an independent, permanent judicial body based in The Hague, Netherlands. Established on July 1, 2002, under the Rome Statute, it prosecutes individuals for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes of aggression. It is not part of the United Nations.