Israel and India: A relationship in bloom

[JohnLocke]

Israel and India: A relationship in bloom
by Colin Rubenstein -- Jerusalem Post
Sunday, March 14, 2004
--
One of the most encouraging international trends at the moment is the improving relationships between India on one hand, and Israel, Australia and the US on the other. It was a desire to add our weight to this developing alignment that underpinned the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council delegation I led to New Delhi earlier this month, in conjunction with our American Jewish Committee partners.
Our seminar was cosponsored by the prestigious Strategic Studies Institute of the Observer Research Foundation under General Ved Prakash Malik, former chief of staff of the Indian Army.
(...)
It became dramatically clear that there is a genuine convergence of values and interests between India and Israel, Australia and the United States; in enhancing and preserving genuine democratic societies, in crucial strategic and political ties, and in strengthening very promising economic relationships.
India and Israel share much in common, as two ancient civilizations that achieved independence from the British almost simultaneously (in 1947 and 1948), both enduring partition and yet, in difficult circumstances, maintaining authentic democratic polities.
(...)
The heart of the evolving New Delhi-Jerusalem-Washington and, one hopes, Canberra alliance lies in the defense, strategic, and political sectors.
September created a climate for even more Indian-Israeli collaboration as the countries discovered an affinity in their approach to regional disputes and terrorism. They both feel beleaguered in their region, face terrorism and armed incursions, and have a feeling that the international community is biased and fails to understand their problems.
India feels the international community has not pressured Pakistan strenuously enough to act against terrorism, just as Israel regards pressure on the Palestinian leadership to relinquish its terrorist strategy as inadequate.
Both India and Israel are threatened by similar strands of radical Islamism. While Israel is concerned with Iran's nuclear potential and support of terrorism, New Delhi worries about Pakistan's nuclear arsenal falling into the hands of Islamic radicals.
(...)
Shared democratic values in containing global terrorism, complementary economic interests, and strategic commonalities have laid the basis for an emerging core alliance not only between India and Israel, but with the US and, potentially, Australia as well.
(...)
The writer is executive director of the Australia-Israel Affairs Council.
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Read the rest here.

[_Jumper_]

1. Is Israel making a huge mistake...

...by antagonizing the only nuclear Muslim country?

[Gimel]

3. Alliance with India

Are ties with India what concerns you as "antagonizing"? Actually, Israel has a measure of understanding with Pakistan also. Israel's Foreign Minister Shalom received warm response from Musaraf in recent talks. Relations with India are not a problem here.

[_Jumper_]

4. Military ties possibly are

Pakistan already faces a huge qualitative deficit with India and the India/Israel alliance, which will supply India with US weapons will further exacerbate Pakistan's problem. On the other hand, it may help things by forcing Pakistan to forge a friendship with Israel, a country it need not be hostile to.

[drdon326]

6. Jumper....

Excellent insight.

[_Jumper_]

11. Thanks

n/t

[fujiyama]

8. I see it very unlikely...

that Pakistan could forge any sort of "friendship" with Israel.

Forst of all, Israel itself would be somewhat hesitant, knowing that any sort of relationship may damage the burgeoning relationship with India.

In a real politic sense, it would be smart for Pakistan to set aside tensions with Israel. However, that is definetely not the case with many of the Islamic fundamentalists in Pakistan -- who believe like their Arab counterparts that Israel should be "swept into the sea". If Musharraf were to try to open relations with Israel in any way, it would very possibly threaten his own power and control.

[_Jumper_]

12. It is possible

There is talk about it recognizing Israel. You make a good point about Israeli ties with Pakistan potentially damaging Israel's ties with India, but I think that Israel can be have military ties with both, like the US does. If the fundies in Pakistan take control, Israel's existence is threatened. Both Pakistan and Israel have an interest in having good relations with each other. However, Israel is very unpopular in Pakistan so domestic politics may prevent Musharraf from pursuing a policy that is in the best interest of the country.

[fujiyama]

7. Israel need not worry...

It's nuclear and conventional forces are much greater than Pakistan's. Pakistan, for the moment atleast, seems very unlikely to actually want to get in any conflict with Israel. Sure they'll grumble and complain about the sale of milirary goods to India, but in all reality, they know they have little control over that (except by bitching to the US).

Granted, if Musharraf were to be overthrown, then there is the potential for worsening tensions.

Israel's main concern regarding Pakistan is not necessarily in Pakistan itself -- rather it is with Pakistan's history of proliferation and nuclear trade with Iran and other nations.

Israel knows it is very unlikely that Pakistan would be foolish enough to start any sort of confrontation with it. Israel is way too occupied with its own problems with the Palestinians and Iran.

[_Jumper_]

13. Correct

The danger for Israel is if the fundies take over Pakistan. If they do, and that may happen if PNAC gets another 4 years, they would have the ability to destroy Israel, a small country, with a few nukes. Israel has no problem with Pakistan per se right now but the fundies are increasingly popular there in the post-9/11 world.

You make a good point about Israel's main concern being Pakistan's status as a nuclear Wal-Mart. Israeli ties with it would give it some leverage over Pakistan's nuclear ties with Iran. Right now Israel has no leverage with Pakistan.

[Muddleoftheroad]

2. Good to see

Israel and India both have common cause against radical Islamists.

[Evil_Dewers]

10. Israel and India both have common cause

They both have dozens of (or in Israel's case) hundreds of nuclear weapons, too.

Such peaceful nations!

[dudeness]

5. australia has been the USAs most reliable ally

we have participated in every "recognised war" the US has undertaken..it is my hope we distance ourself from CURRENT US policy and build a relationship based on mutual respect and values.. not blind subservience

[Evil_Dewers]

9. Outsource Sharon's job to India

Replace him with a Ghandi heir.