Relations between India and Israel improved significantly during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Delhi. A Raj Kapoor song cemented the alliance. The main advance took place with bilateral talks clearing the air about India’s vote at the UN on the East Jerusalem issue and the uncertainty over the multi- million dollar Israeli Spike anti-tank missile deal. Narendra Modi invited Israeli Defence companies to take advantage of the liberalised FDI regime in India. At the same time, emphasis was laid on Israeli participations in Modi’s ‘make in India’ initiative in collaboration with Indian companies. The joint statement urged the defence ministries of the two countries to hold discussions this year on public and private sector participation. Joint ventures with Indian companies in the defence sector are already on the anvil. It would be necessary to develop more business models and partnerships as well as joint manufacturing which would include transfer of technology combined with increased joint research and development in defence and security fields. Cyber security was also the agenda. Cooperation between the two countries would promote it. Terrorism was also strongly deplored.
There was a noticeable difference between the joint statement issued during Modi’s visit to Israel in 2017 and the joint statement in Delhi. Last year both leaders committed to cooperate for early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. But there was no reiteration this time. On the East Jerusalem controversy, the two PMs put forth their views but agreed that ties between the countries would not be determined by a single issue. On the Israel-Palestine conflict, India merely asked for peace talks to be speeded up. One hopes that the joint statement will not be mere words but would result in positive action.