יחסי הודו-ישראל

India-Israel Relations: Strategic Interests, Politics and

Diplomatic Pragmatism

Itzhak Gerberg

This monograph concentrates on the relations between India and Israel.

The State of Israel, which had been established in 1948, was recognised by

India on 18 September 1950, however, the two countries only established

full diplomatic relations on 29 January 1992.

Indo-Israeli relations from 1948 to 1991 had been characterised by partial

pro-Arab and anti-Israeli foreign policy. India's foreign policy towards

Israel reflected its self-interest in the Middle East as well as its traditional

sympathy with the Arabs and had been influenced by India's commitment

to the Non-Aligned Movement and the sentiments of the Indian Muslims.

In 1992, a significant diplomatic change occurred when India and Israel

established full diplomatic relations. Three types of mutual national

strategic interests, namely, joint strategic interests, common strategic

interests and discrepant strategic interests, influence the Indian decision to

establish diplomatic relations with Israel as well as the evolving relations

between the two countries that followed.

Consecutive Indian governments in power had an influence on the

Indian foreign policy towards Israel but despite the slow down ever

since 2004, the bilateral relations between India and Israel in general and

their defense relations in particular are continuely evolving in a positive

manner concentrating on the convergence of strategic interests between the

countries.