Mudda panellists welcome India’s budding friendship with Israel, but warn against trade imbalance; its weapons and our huge market are big pluses

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in New Delhi on January 14, 2018, on his first visit to India to deepen Defence, economic and cultural ties between the two countries. Diplomatic ties between the two nations were set up barely 25 years ago.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke protocol to receive Netanyahu, only the second Israeli leader to visit India after Ariel Sharon in 2003, at the Palam airport. Netanyahu described the collaboration as a “marriage made in heaven”.

APN’s popular debate Mudda’s anchorperson Akshay Gaur spoke to defence experts Brigadier RB Sharma and Col Fasih Ahmed, former envoy Jitendra Kumar Tripathi, Surendra Rajput of the Congress, Sudesh Verma of the BJP, and Govind Pant Raju, consultant, APN.

Brig Sharma said that it’s a significant and happy development as ties with Israel are important from the points of view of our defence and security policies.

Col Ahmed said that Israeli defence industry is highly prestigious, and it has grown exponentially. Israel has state-of-the-art defence equipment, barrack missiles, spike missiles, and so on, and the tie-ups with Israel will help.

Tripathi said that the tie-up will help India in the defence field, for agricultural development, cooperation in space, and in intelligence sharing.

Sharma said that Netanyahu comes along with a huge delegation of commerce and industry. Nobel prizes for research go to Jews often, so partnership with Israel will help India, as it is big in the research field.

Rajput pointed out that earlier West Asia, Israel and Pakistan were considered the main centres for terrorism, though now there has been a shift.

Raju said that the ties help India. “Though Modi does things in his own style, at times breaking protocol, India has had a long association with Israel. Ties with Israel have been sweet for a long time. Israel’s farming tips were incorporated in Gujarat when Modi went there as CM. Israel needs India, as India is a huge market. Israel’s defence industry is important for India,” he said.

Verma said that the BJP considers Israel as a good friend, especially since it has been successful in dealing with terror on its own turf. He pointed out that Netanyahu has rightly said that “it’s a friendship made in heaven”.

Tripathi said that India made it clear its relations with Israel are not dependent on Arab nations.

Verma said that “we are with Israel, doesn’t mean we are against the Arab nations. Modi needs to be given credit for the right perspective in India’s foreign policy”.

Rajput said that ties are not built overnight. Maintaining of trade balance is important, and there should not be a trade imbalance. Both nations are grappling with terrorism.

Col Ahmed agreed with Brig Sharma that it’s a strategic partnership.

Tripathi said that it’s a win-win situation on both sides. Israel needs our market and we need the expertise.

Rajput said that Israel is a small nation, but big in defence equipment, so the ties will be beneficial for India.

Compiled by Niti Singh Bhandari

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