THE historic address of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi in the Israeli Parliament holds a golden value in taking ahead the Indo-Israel “iron alliance”. By becoming the first Indian premier to address the Knesset, Mr. Modi has opened a new pathway to further merge the Indian thinking of global peace through punishing evil with Israel’s right to ward off radicalism by force. Mr. Modi’s words that India stands firmly with the Jewish State in confronting Islamist terrorism will keep resonating in Israel for the spiritual strength of the pledge. The Indian PM’s visit is set to take the partnership between the two traditional and close allies to a new level notwithstanding the moments of discomfort caused by geopolitical pressures. From the welcome accorded by Israel Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara to the address in the Knesset, Israel displayed the value it attaches to its ties with India, especially with Mr. Modi.

 

The personal chemistry between the two premiers is already well documented. With an address in the Knesset where Mr. Modi hailed Israel’s right to self-defence against radical Islamist forces, the bond has travelled beyond the political and diplomatic relationship contours. It is an iron-clad clasp of two nations who share the pain of losing innocent lives to Islamist terrorism for years. Asserting India’s support to Israel with full conviction and condemning the massacre of October 7, 2023 by Hamas militants, Mr. Modi has told the world that India would never compromise on its firm belief against terrorism in all forms despite pressures of geopolitical maneuvers to choose a stand of convenience on certain matters. India has always backed Israel’s right to self-defence on international platforms while convincing the Islamic nations about the logic behind it.

 

The neutral position New Delhi takes on certain issues pertaining to Israel and Palestine also has its roots in the ancient Indian thinking of looking at the world as one family. This visit by Mr. Modi and his historic address in the Israeli Parliament was the public acknowledgement of India’s neutrality by the Jewish State. India has always dealt with the Israel-Palestine conflict with a balanced approach. It is a vocal propagator of two-State solution seeking a peaceful coexistence of the State of Israel and a State of Palestine (whenever it will be created). This stand has never changed despite change in regimes in New Delhi. Under Mr. Modi, India has further moved to dehyphenate Israel and Palestine with separate visits to both regions. The stand was never questioned in Tel Aviv nor by the Palestine supporters because it was borne out of larger human good.

 

With the same principle, India has gone ahead in making deep friendship with the Arab nations around Israel and the Muslim world in other parts of the world. The address in Knesset was hailing of India’s role as a unifier in this world fragmented far too often on religious lines. Another significant outcome of Mr. Modi’s visit to Israel is the acceptance of India’s position on the Board of Peace designed by United States President Mr. Donald Trump. India has not officially joined the initiative but attended its first meeting as an observer. The stand was again derived from the time-tested policy of neutrality before getting total grasp of the issue. India views the Board of Peace as Mr. Trump’s attempt to replace the United Nations. It cannot allow demeaning of an international institution which can still be a great platform after reforms. India’s position has been well understood by Israel as it chose to respect New Delhi’s strategic autonomy. At the same time, India has done well to back the Gaza peace initiative for establishing peace in the enclave. The support is for the plan to weed out Hamas militants through demilitarisation and monitoring of the Gaza Strip with the help of International Stabilisation Force. That both stands taken by New Delhi have earned respect in Tel Aviv is another confirmation of India’s global standing.