Modi's Israel visit: What's behind the Delhi-Tel Aviv 'special relationship'
https://www.effectivegatecpm.com/tsr9ytn2c?key=6b2e14eb447e1cf5f3252bde72719a80
"We have sailed together in the waters of the Mediterranean. Then a lot of water has flowed through the Mediterranean, the Ganges, and the Jordan River; although little has flowed through the Jordan."
This is how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been describing their friendship since a "historic" visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017. During that visit, the two countries signed a series of strategic partnership agreements in the water and agriculture sectors.
Modi is returning to Israel on a two-day visit on Wednesday. According to Netanyahu, the visit will further strengthen the "special relationship" between the two countries, a term usually used only for US-Israeli relations.
According to the Israeli leader, India-Israel relations have reached an unprecedented high in recent years. Modi's visit comes at a time when there is a strong threat of war between Israel and its close ally the United States with Iran in the Middle East and the Israeli aggression in Gaza, Palestine continues. In addition, elections are going to be held in Israel after nine months; which is politically important for Netanyahu.
Why is Modi going to Israel?
Benjamin Netanyahu said, "This week will reveal the special relationship that has developed in recent years between Israel and the global power India, and between me and its leader, Prime Minister Modi."
For two and a half years, the Indian government has stood by Israel, providing it with workers, weapons and diplomatic support, even as Israel's operation in Gaza has killed 72,000 Palestinians and a genocide case is pending against the country at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Within hours of the unprecedented attack on Israel by the Palestinian independence movement Hamas on October 7, 2023, Modi became the first world leader to call Netanyahu. Since then, India's strong support for Israel's war in Gaza has been clear.
/span>
In a speech on Sunday, Netanyahu said, "The fabric of this relationship has become stronger. He (Modi) is coming here so that we can take a series of decisions to further strengthen the cooperation between our governments and our two countries. This includes economic, diplomatic and security cooperation."
The visit is an opportunity for Netanyahu to express his gratitude to Modi, but he also wants to use it as a way to boost his own domestic political credibility and demonstrate his public engagement in the 'Global South'.
According to the itinerary published in Israeli media, Modi will address the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, which is reserved for special guests only. He will attend an event on technology and innovation in Jerusalem and visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. However, he will not visit the occupied West Bank or Gaza. There is no indication that he will discuss the Palestinian issue or Israel's new illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
/span>
This is consistent with Delhi's policy under the Modi government, which sees Israel and Palestine as separate rather than as one. Even though it undermines India's stated commitment to a two-state solution (to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict).
Post a Comment