Expanding relations with India —Haaretz, Sept 7
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon departs tomorrow on an official visit to India. The trip will symbolize anew stage in the strengthening of relations between the two states. Eleven years have passed since the establishment of full diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Jerusalem; these relations were forged in the aftermath of the Madrid conference, and Israel’s entry in the peace process with its Arab neighbors. Since then, relations have developed in a strikingly impressive fashion, especially in terms of security and economic ties.
Sharon will be Israel’s first Prime Minister to travel to India, and his visit is stirring considerable public interest there. New Delhi’s current right-wing government, headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, shares with Israel major strategic interests. Indeed, lines of similarity between the two states are hard to ignore. Since its establishment, India has battled with its Muslim neighbor and foe, Pakistan. Citizens in India suffer from attacks perpetrated by extremist Islamic groups. And a large Muslim minority dwells in their country. India also developed nuclear arms beyond the confines of international agreements. Despite its tense security situation, India has managed to maintain a stable democracy, and also to notch achievements in terms of the ethnic integration of Hindus, Muslims and Christians in the state.
Under these circumstances, it was only natural for India to seek close ties with Israel, a state which is also a “democracy at war,” and which has acquired an international reputation in weapons development and for its war on terror. In fact, India claimed a front seat among clients of Israel Military Industries, whose heads will accompany Sharon on his visit this week. Israel became India’s second most important supplier of arms; it provided sophisticated weapons systems to India, and established a joint, anti-terror, forum with the country. Major transactions involving the sale of the Phalcon airborne reconnaissance system, and missiles to defend ships, are currently on the agenda.
After having led for years the world’s “neutral” camp that opposed American influence, India has over the past two years strengthened ties with the United States. This improved relationship with Washington has encouraged India’s leadership to think in terms of a triangular alliance in which India and Israel would act as cushions providing stability in the tumultuous South Asia/Middle East regions, areas that face threats posed by terror, and by the dictatorial regimes of Arab, Muslim states. Recently, after a one-year delay, the U.S. agreed to the sale of the Phalcon system to India. This whole strategic line of thinking forms an especially inviting background to the visit paid by Sharon, whose world view is formulated on assumptions compatible with ones found in New Delhi. No doubt, Sharon will be involved in a constructive exchange of opinions with Vajpayee and his colleagues about security problems shared by the two states. Yet the security ties do not need to serve as the sole foundation of relations with India. It is important to capitalize on momentum generated by the prime minister’s trip, and to use it to expand ties in civil spheres of economic investment and cultural exchange. Israel has an interest in taking part in large economic projects in India, and it should open its doors to companies and investors from India. In the diplomatic arena, the time has come for India to translate its openness toward Israel into changes in its voting patterns at the United Nations: up to now, India has automatically cast its ballots with the pro-Arab majority. |
