Thread by @gunjanm_

Yom Ha'atzmaut (Independence Day) marks the Israeli Declaration of Independence by future PM David Ben-Gurion on 14th May, 1948. It is celebrated on 5th day of the month of Iyar between sunset and nightfall of the next day. In Hebrew calendar, days begin in the evening. #Israel72

Many may not remember, India under leadership of Mahatma Gandhi & Nehru had not recognised the creation of Israel. They had voted against the Partitioning of Palestine Plan in 1947 and voted against Israel’s admission to the United Nations in 1949. @IsraelinIndia #Israel72

On 17th Sept, 1950 India extended de-jure recognition to Israel & allowed it to maintain a consulate in Bombay to facilitate the immigration of Indian Jews to Israel. Nehru stated that they would have recognised Israel earlier but did not want to offend the sentiments of Arabs.

However, the Nehru government did not want to pursue full diplomatic relations with Israel for the following reasons:

- Support for the pro-Palestine Liberation Organization Non-Aligned Movement.

- Tilt towards Soviet Union during Cold War.
#Israel72

- Large number of Indians working in the Arab countries helped India maintains its forex reserves.

- Domestically, Indian politicians feared losing the minority vote if relations normalised with Israel.

- Need for energy in terms of safeguarding the oil from Gulf.
#Israel72

Although their relationship from 1950 to the early 1990s, remained informal, Israel aided India during crisis like Kargil War in 1999, earthquake in 2001, US arms embargo, etc. There has also been less publicly acknowledged aid during 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan. #Israel72

After decades of non-aligned and pro-Arab policy, PV Narasimha Rao through his ‘Look West’ policy formally established relations with Israel when it opened an embassy in Tel Aviv in January 1992. This diplomatic shift was caused due to the following:
#Israel72

- Change in balance of power post Gulf War 1991.

- Disintegration of Soviet Union.

- Start of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process in 1991 involving not just Tel Aviv and the PLO, but also Arab countries.

- Common strategic interests & security threats.
#Israel72

Formation of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which allegedly neglected the sentiments of Indian minorities.

- Blocking of India by Pakistan from joining the OIC

This paved the way for increased political, economic, cultural, and security cooperation. #Israel72

Ezer Weizman became the first Israeli President to visit India in 1997. In 2003, Ariel Sharon was the first Israeli PM to visit India. He was welcomed by PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee who voiced confidence that this visit would pave the way for further consolidating bilateral ties.

Sharon's visit was condemned in leftist & minority circles. Hundreds of supporters of India's various pro-Minority & communist parties rallied in New Delhi. Students of AMU, Aligarh demanded that India severe ties with Israel and increase ties with Palestine. #Israel72

PM @narendramodi first met his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of UNGA in 2014. Pranab Mukherjee became the first President of India to visit Israel from October 13 to 15, 2015. Mukherjee was given the rare honour of addressing the Knesset. #Israel72

In 2015, when the UNHRC Gaza war crimes report was tabled for vote, India made a landmark switch and abstained from voting, one of the five countries to do so. 41 nations voted in favour, and the United States was the only vote against. #Israel72

Also, India voted in favour of Israel's resolution to deny observer status to Palestinian NGO Shahed at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on 6 June 2019. This stance strengthened the India- Israel bond sending a clear message that ‘India stands with Israel’ #Israel72

In July 2017, @narendramodi became the first ever Indian PM to visit Israel. As a personal gesture, Israel named a new type of Chrysanthemum flower, after him. Modi’s visit was both groundbreaking and symbolic as it clearly delinked Palenstine from India’s equation with Israel.

In January, to commemorate 25 years of Indian-Israeli relations, Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu along with a 130 member delegation visited India. As a special gesture, Netanyahu gifted - the Gal-Mobile water desalination and purification jeep to @narendramodi #Israel72

Costing US$111,000, it can purify up to 20,000 litre per day of seawater and 80,000 litre per day of brackish/muddy or contaminated river water and bring it to WHO standards. Modiji had witnessed a demonstration of the seawater purification technology during his visit to Israel.

Such are the diplomatic relations of Narendra Modi with Israel & Saudi Arabia that in a historic breakthrough in 2018, Air India was the first commercial airline permitted to fly through Saudi Arabian airspace to Tel Aviv cutting more than 2 hours of usual flight time. #Israel72

Infact in January 2019, Israel’s NSA Meir Ben Shabbat chose the direct Air India flight to New Delhi rather than taking its national carrier, El Al Airlines. This small incident highlights how far India- Israel relations have traveled since its normalisation in 1992. #Israel72

India is increasingly becoming central to Israel’s policy, politically, commercially, in science and culture. Israel is appreciative of the fact that Jews in India were never persecuted. On 9th April, 2020, India had exported five-ton shipment of drugs and chemicals to Israel.

Today India & Israel collaborate in defence, trade, strategic, intelligence & security-related areas, Since formal diplomatic ties in 1992, bilateral trade between Israel & India has also increased, from US$200 million in 1992-3 to US$5.84 billion in 2018-19 (excluding defence).

Namaste and Shalom! 🙏

Wishing @Israel @IsraeliPM a very Happy 72nd Independence Day! 🇮🇳🇮🇱
#Israel72 #IsraelIndependenceday

This thread was in collaboration with @sumtijain26, thank you for your contribution!