 | |
 India |  Israel |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of India, Tel Aviv | Embassy of Israel, New Delhi |
| Envoy | |
| AmbassadorJ. P. Singh | AmbassadorReuven Azar |
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India andIsrael maintain a close and multifacetedbilateral relationship, underpinned by strategic interests, and a history of cooperation across various sectors. Over the years, Israel has emerged as one of India's key partners in areas such as defense, agriculture, science and technology, and counter-terrorism.[1] The partnership is characterized by high-level political engagement, increasing economic ties, and collaboration in innovation and security, reflecting a steady deepening of ties between the two countries.
Since the 1990s, the Republic of India and the State of Israel have had a comprehensive economic, military, and political relationship.[2][3] In 1947, India voted against theUnited Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, but nonethelessrecognized Israeli sovereignty in 1950. Israel opened a consulate inBombay in 1953. Collaboration gradually increased as Israel became a key Indian ally amidst theIndia–Pakistan conflict; Israel supplied India with armaments, ammunition, and intelligence during theIndo-Pakistani War of 1971 and theIndo-Pakistani War of 1999. Full diplomatic relations were established in 1992, when India opened an embassy inTel Aviv and Israel opened an embassy in New Delhi. Both countries are members of theI2U2 Group, formed in October 2021,[4] and have stated that they have a strong bilateral relationship, sharing similarities in spirit and facing common challenges, increasingly cooperating in the industrial and technological sectors.[5]
By 2019, India was Israel's third-largest Asian trade partner and tenth-largest overall trade partner – bilateral trade, excluding military sales, stood at around US$6.3 billion.[6] As of 2015[update], both countries are negotiating an extensive bilateral free-trade agreement, focusing on areas such as information technology, biotechnology, and agriculture.[7][8] As of 2022[update], India is Israel's largest client for military equipment sales, and Israel is India's second-largest supplier of military equipment afterRussia;[9] approximately 42.1% of all Israeli arms exports are received by India.[10] Between the1999 Kargil conflict and 2010, India has spent $9 billion on defense purchases from Israel.[11] By 2022, Israel has spent $3.2 billion oncrude oil anddiamonds from India.[12] Their strategic ties extend to joint military training as well as intelligence-sharing on the activity of various terrorist groups.[13][14] Israel providedhumanitarian aid to India after the2001 Gujarat earthquake.[15] Since the2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, India has reportedly been providing significant military assistance to Israel. One key area of support has been the provision ofHermes 900 drones.[16] With increasedtension between Iran and Israel in 2024, there has been a geopolitical shift by India away from Iran and towards Israel.[17][18]
Israel is represented in India through an embassy in New Delhi as well as consulates inMumbai andBangalore. India is represented in Israel through an embassy inTel Aviv; the Indian government does not currently recognizeJerusalem as Israel's capital city (seestatus of Jerusalem). In 2009, an international study on theArab–Israeli conflict revealed that around 58 percent of Indian respondents sympathized with Israel—the most positive opinion of any country surveyed.[19] In 2023, a survey revealed that Israelis hold the most favorable views of India among all countries surveyed. According to the data, 71% of Israeli respondents expressed a favorable opinion ofIndia, while 20% held unfavorable views and 9% did not express an opinion.[20]
Excavation atTel Megiddo shows evidence of Indo-Mediterranean trade relations from mid second millennium BCE between south Asia and southern Levant based on the presence of turmeric, banana, sesame, all originating from south Asia.[21] Geographical analysis suggests that theOld Testament may be talking about India, where the trade of animals such as monkeys and peacocks existed.[22] According toChaim Menachem Rabin, the connection between ancient Israel and the Indian subcontinent was recorded during the reign of King Solomon (10th century BCE) in I Kings 10.22.[23] Ancient trade and cultural communication between India and the Levant is documented in thePeriplus of the Erythraean Sea and the accounts surroundingQueen of Sheba in the Hebrew Bible. Jews who have settled inKochi,Kerala, trace their origin back to the time of King Solomon and are calledCochin Jews. Later on,Paradesi Jews migrated to Kochi, Kerala, during the 15th and 16th centuries following the expulsion of Jews fromSpain.
Trade relations can be traced back to 1,000 BCE and earlier to the time of theIndus Valley Civilization of the Indian subcontinent and the Babylonian culture of Middle East. A Buddhist story describes Indian merchants visitingBaveru (Babylonia)[24] and selling peacocks for public display. Similar, earlier accounts describe monkeys exhibited to the public.[25] Trade connections between India and Palestine and Mediterranean Jewish communities continued, and later, the languages of these cultures started to share linguistic similarities.[26]
Judea played a minor role in trade between theRoman Empire and India during the period of Roman rule in Judea. It is known that there were expensive garments in the Temple in Jerusalem imported from India viaAlexandria.[27]
Hermann Kallenbach (1 March 1871 – 25 March 1945) was a Lithuanian-born Jewish South Africanarchitect who was one of the foremost friends and associates ofMahatma Gandhi. Kallenbach was introduced to the young Mohandas Gandhi while they were both working inSouth Africa and, after a series of discussions, they developed a long-lasting association. As a ZionisteditKallenbach planned to accompany Gandhi to India in 1914, but with the outbreak of World War I, he was interned as an enemy alien at detention camps and shifted to the Isle of Man as a prisoner of war from 1915 until 1917. After the war he returned to South Africa, where he resumed his work as an architect and continued to correspond with Gandhi. The rise ofNazism andHitler'santi-Semiticpropaganda shocked Kallenbach into a rediscovery of his Jewish roots. He became aZionist and served on the Executive Board of the South African Zionist Federation and planned to settle in Palestine ("Ereẓ Israel" inHebrew). He wanted society there to involve no state, military, or industry, in order to avoid colonialism through Zionist settlements. At the request ofMoshe Shertok (Sharett), Kallenbach visited Gandhi in May 1937 to enlist his sympathy and support for Zionism. The architect once again became a simple man, participating in all the activities of Gandhi's ashram life. Kallenbach wrote, "I join the whole programme. ... It is 'almost' as the old joint life, as if the 23 years, with all the events that affected millions of people, had disappeared." Kallenbach disagreed with Gandhi over Zionism and the need to violently resist Hitler. Nevertheless, Kallenbach continued his deep friendship with Gandhi, visiting him again in 1939
India's position on the establishment of the State of Israel was affected by many factors, including India's ownpartition on religious lines, and India's relationship with other nations.[28] Indian independence leaderMahatma Gandhi believed the Jews had a good case and a prior claim for Israel,[29][30][31] but opposed the creation of Israel on religious[29][32] ormandated terms.[29][32][33] Gandhi believed that the Arabs were the "rightful occupants" of Palestine, and was of the view that the Jews should return to their countries of origin.[34]Albert Einstein wrote a four-page letter toJawaharlal Nehru on 13 June 1947, to persuade India to support the setting up of a Jewish state. Nehru, however, couldn't accept Einstein's request, and explained his dilemma stating that national leaders "have to unfortunately pursue policies that are essentially selfish".[35][36][37][38] India voted against thepartitioning of Palestine plan of 1947[39] and voted againstIsrael's admission to the United Nations in 1949.[40]
Various proponents ofHindutva supported or sympathised with the creation of Israel.Hindu Mahasabha leaderVeer Savarkar supported the creation of Israel on both moral and political grounds, and condemned and deplored India's vote at the UN against Israel.[41][42]Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leaderMadhav Sadashiv Golwalkar admiredJewish nationalism and believedPalestine was the natural territory of the Jewish people, essential to theiraspiration for nationhood.[43][44]
On 17 September 1950, India officially recognised the State of Israel.[28] IndianPrime MinisterJawaharlal Nehru stated, "We would have [recognised Israel] long ago, because Israel is a fact. We refrained because of our desire not to offend the sentiments of our friends in the Arab countries."[28] In 1953, Israel was permitted to open a consulate in Bombay (now Mumbai).[45]
During theSix-Day War India took a pro-Arab stance.[46] Israel supported India during theIndo-Pakistani War of 1971.[47] Israeli arms manufacturerShlomo Zabludowicz provided India and the Bengali nationalist organizationMukti Bahini withmortars, ammunition and instructors.[48]India's opposition to official diplomatic relations stemmed from domestic and foreign considerations. Domestically, politicians in India feared losing the Muslim vote if relations were normalised with Israel.[49][50]
Additionally, India did not want to jeopardise its citizens working inArab States of the Persian Gulf, who were helping India maintain itsforeign-exchange reserves.[49][51] India's domestic need for energy was another reason, in order to safeguard the flow of oil from Arab nations.[49][51] India's foreign policy goals and alliances also proved problematic to formal relations with Israel, including India's support for the pro-Palestine Liberation OrganizationNon-Aligned Movement, India's tilt towards theSoviet Union during theCold War, and India's desire to counter Pakistan's influence with the Arab states.[51] On an ideological level, the dominant political party in India during this era, namely theIndian National Congress, opposed Israel due to their perception that it was a state based on religion, analogous to Pakistan.[51]
Although there was no formal relationship for several decades, meetings and cooperation took place between both countries, including figures such asMoshe Dayan.[52] Israel also provided India with crucial information during its multiple wars.[53]
After decades ofnon-aligned and pro-Arab policy, India formally established relations with Israel when it opened an embassy inTel Aviv in January 1992.[54] Ties between the two nations have flourished since, primarily due to common strategic interests and security threats, particularly fromterrorism. In 1999, Israel supported India in theKargil war by providing arms and ammunition.[55] The formation ofOrganisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which allegedly neglected the sentiments of Indian Muslims, and the blocking of India by Pakistan from joining the OIC are considered to be the causes of this diplomatic shift.[56][57][58] On a diplomatic level, India and Israel have maintained healthy relations despite India's repeated condemnations of Israeli military actions inPalestinian territories, which are believed to be motivated by theUnited Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
Since his election in 2014, theModi government has maintained ade-hyphenation policy, where it keeps its relations with Israel and Palestine independent from each other.[59] At the height of the2014 Israel–Gaza war, India blamed both sides and asked Israel to "stop disproportionate use of force." External Affairs MinisterSushma Swaraj insisted that there was no change in India's policy of supporting the Palestinian cause while maintaining good relations with Israel.[60] Nevertheless, India joined other BRICS nations in voting at theUnited Nations Human Rights Council for a probe into alleged human rights violations in Gaza, which generated mixed response among media and analysts in India.[61] When the UNHRC report alleging that Israel had committed war crimes was tabled for vote, India abstained from voting, one of five countries to do so.[62] Israeli envoy to IndiaDaniel Carmon thanked India for not supporting what he described as "another anti-Israel bashing resolution."[63]
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India–Israel relationship has been very close and warm under the premiership ofNarendra Modi since 2014. In 2017, he was the first ever Prime Minister of India to visit Israel.[64][65] India was the largest arms customer of Israel in 2017. Defence relations between the two countries are longstanding.[66]
India voted in favour of Israel's resolution to deny observer status to Palestinian non-governmental organization Shahed at theUN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on 6 June 2019.[67]
In August 2022, PresidentIsaac Herzog joined the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv for its 75thIndependence Day celebrations. In his speech, he welcomed India's rise as a regional and global power and described Israel and India as two modern republics proudly bound together by creativity and democracy, by ingenuity coupled with deep respect for timeless faiths and belief systems.[68] MeetingIndian External Affairs MinisterSubrahmanyam Jaishankar, Herzog underscored his personal commitment to strengthening the India–Israel relationship.[69]
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Despite Indian leaders' opposition to Israel in the past, India in 2025 is a strong ally of Israel. India was one of the first countries to condemn theOctober 7 attack on Israel by Palestinian militants. India also abstained from voting in favor of aUN resolution as it didn't explicitly condemn Hamas.[70][71][72] In 2025, the oppositionCongress criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his stance on theGaza war.[73]
Israel condemned thePahalgam terrorist attack on 22 April 2025 and expressed support for India. On 7 May 2025, Israel publicly praised India's airstrikes on terrorists, which were launched in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack. The Israeli government described the operation as a "measured and decisive response to terrorism" and reaffirmed its support for India's right to self-defence, adding "Israel supports India's right for self defense. Terrorists should know there's no place to hide from their heinous crimes against the innocent." The airstrikes, part of what was reported asOperation Sindoor, targeted terrorist launchpads and infrastructure across the Line of Control.[74]
Ezer Weizman became the first Israeli president to visit India in 1997.[75]
In 2000,L.K. Advani became the first IndianHome Minister to visit the state of Israel.[76]
Later that year,Jaswant Singh became the first IndianForeign Minister to visit Israel.[77] Following the visit, the two countries set up a joint anti-terror commission. The foreign ministers of the two countries said intensified co-operation would range from counter-terrorism to information technology.[78][79]
In 2003,Ariel Sharon was the firstIsraeli Prime Minister to visit India. He was welcomed by theBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ledNational Democratic Alliance coalition government of India.[80] Several newspapers expressed positive views on his visit, andIndian Prime MinisterAtal Bihari Vajpayee voiced confidence that Sharon's visit would pave the way for further consolidating bilateral ties.[81] Sharon's visit was condemned in leftist[82] andMuslim circles.[83] Hundreds of supporters of India's various communist parties rallied in New Delhi while nearly 100 Muslims were arrested in Mumbai.[83] Students ofAligarh Muslim University demanded that India sever ties with Israel and increase ties with Palestine.[84] TheHindi-language dailyNavbharat Times called Sharon an important friend of India. TheHindu nationalistRashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) condemned the protest against Sharon.[85][86] Sharon expressed satisfaction over his talks with Indian leaders. Indian prime ministerAtal Bihari Vajpayee said the visit would increase ties between India and Israel.[87] Sharon invited Vajpayee to visit Israel.[88] Sharon said that Israelis regard India to be one of the most important countries in the world, and Vajpayee was sure that Sharon's visit would bring the two countries closer together.[83]
In early 2006 Indian government ministersSharad Pawar,Kapil Sibal, andKamal Nath visited Israel.[89] Then-Gujarat Chief MinisterNarendra Modi visited Israel in October 2006.[90]
Despite India's "unwavering support for the Palestinian cause", Foreign MinisterS.M. Krishna made a two-day visit to Israel in 2012. The Israeli PM deemed this visit by Krishna a historical step forward in developing the relations between the two nations.[91][92]
In May 2014, after the victory ofNarendra Modi in the2014 general election Israeli PMBenjamin Netanyahu personally congratulated Modi.[93] Modi in turn met his Israeli counterpartBenjamin Netanyahu inNew York City on the sideline of the UN General Assembly during his US visit in 2014.[94] This was the first meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries in over a decade.[95] On the occasion of theHanukkah festival, Indian PM Modi greeted his Israeli counterpart inHebrew onTwitter[96][97][98] while the Israeli PM replied inHindi.
Indian Home MinisterRajnath Singh visited Israel in November 2014 to observe the country's border security arrangements. During his tour he also met Israeli PM Netanyahu.[99][100][101] Breaking from convention, Singh was the first Indian minister to visit Israel without also visiting Palestine on the same trip.[102] In the same year, former Israeli presidentShimon Peres visited India.[103] A high level Israeli delegation with theAgriculture Minister of Israel,Yair Shamir, also participated in theVibrant Gujarat summit in 2015.[104][105][106] In December 2014, a news article was published inThe Hindu which stated that India may end support to Palestine at the UN.[107]
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In February 2015Israeli Defence MinisterMoshe Ya'alon came toIndia. During his visit he participated inAero India 2015. He also met his Indian counterpart, as well as the Indian PM.[108][109]Pranab Mukherjee became the firstpresident of India to visit Israel from 13 to 15 October 2015. Mukherjee was given the rare honour of addressing theKnesset.[110]
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Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Israel in January 2016. During the visit, she visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Reuven Rivlin, members of the cabinet, and the Indian Jewish communities in Israel.[111]
In September 2016,Indian Minister of Agriculture,Radha Mohan Singh visited Israel to bolster India-Israel agricultural ties. He met his Israeli counterpartUri Ariel, where the discussion concerned about collaborative opportunities in agriculture between both the countries.[112]
Israeli presidentReuven Rivlin visited India for a week-long state visit in November 2016, becoming the second Israeli president to visit the country. Rivlin visited New Delhi, Agra, Karnal, Chandigarh and Mumbai. He spent the last day of his visit in Mumbai paying homage to the victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and meeting with the Indian Jewish community.[113] Israel currently regards Iran as a major threat to its national security, and Rivlin expressed this concern in meetings with Prime Minister Modi.[114] Following his visit, Rivlin told Israeli media that despite growing economic ties with both countries, the Indian government had assured him that India would support Israel despite the former's relations with Iran. Rivlin toldThe Jerusalem Post, "They assure us that when the time will come they will never, never, ever let anyone act against the existence of Israel."[75]
In October 2021, India'sMinister of External Affairs,S. Jaishankar, made his first visit to Israel since taking office.[115][116]
After theOctober 7 attacks, Israel's ambassador to India,Naor Gilon, highlighted the overwhelming support for Israel from Indians. He stated, "If you look at the Israeli Embassy's social media, it's amazing. I could have another IDF with Indian volunteers. Everyone is telling me that they want to volunteer and go to fight for Israel. This level of support is unprecedented for me. The closeness between India and Israel is something I cannot explain."[117][118] Indian prime ministerNarendra Modi and hisBharatiya Janata Party took a strong pro-Israel position, which was seen as motivated by a desire to shore uppolitical support from Hindu voters, forge closer ties with theUnited States which tends to favor Israel, and India's past experiences withterrorism.[119] Indians are consequently widely viewed as being exceptionally supportive of Israel. At the same time Israelis were widely viewed as being appreciative of the support.[120][121][122]
A growing diaspora of Indians also fill the ranks of Israel. By 2024 Indians made up the largest share of foreign students in Israel.[123] They are also a growing source of manual labour.[124]
With increased tension between Iran and Israel in 2024, there has been a geopolitical shift by India away from Iran and towards Israel, a long-stated goal of Hindu nationalists.[17][18]
In July 2017,Narendra Modi became the first everIndian prime minister to visitIsrael. It was noted that Prime Minister Modi did not visit Palestine during the trip, breaking from convention. With the sole exception of Union Minister Rajnath Singh, previous trips by Indian ministers and President Mukherjee included visits to both Israel and Palestine. The Indian media described the move as the dehyphenation of India's relations with the two states.[102][125]
As a personal gesture,Israel named a new type ofChrysanthemum flower afterNarendra Modi.[126] The media houses of both countries had termed the visit to be historic.[127] During the visit,India andIsrael signed 7Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), which are listed as below:[128]
India and Israel also signed an agreement, upgrading their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership.[129] During the trip, Prime Minister Modi also addressed the Indian diaspora inIsrael in a highly televised event inTel Aviv. In illustrating an Indian welcome to the Indian diaspora from its homeland, he announcedOverseas Citizenship of India cards for Jews of Indian origin who had completed their compulsory military service in theIsrael Defense Force and also pledged the construction of a major Indian cultural centre in Tel Aviv.[130] Modi also visited the northern Israeli city ofHaifa, where he paid homage to the Indian soldiers of the Indian Army who had fallen to save Jewish land in theBattle of Haifa, and unveiled a special plaque commemorating the steadfast military leadership ofMajor Dalpat Singh who liberated the ancient city from theOttoman Empire.[131]
In January, to commemorate 25 years of Indian-Israeli relations,[132] a highly televised visit of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu to India took place, during which both Netanyahu and India's prime minister Modi have exchanged mutual applauses. This visit was the first since the 2003 visit ofAriel Sharon to India. Netanyahu, accompanied by a 130-member delegation, the largest that has ever accompanied a visiting Israeli premier, wants to increase exports to India by 25 percent over the three years. Israel is to invest $68.6 million in areas such as tourism, technology, agriculture and innovation over a period of four years, a senior Israeli official had said ahead of the visit.[133]
During this visit, an official commemoration ceremony took place, that honoured the Indian soldiers who perished in theBattle of Haifa duringWorld War I took place, where Teen Murti Chowk, representing the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore lancers, was renamed 'Teen Murti Haifa Chowk', after the Israeli port city ofHaifa.[134] During the official visit by the Israeli prime minister, the two countries signed 9 MoUs in the fields of cybersecurity, oil & gas production, air transport, homeopathic medicine, film production, space technology and innovation,[135] he also met with the heads of the Bollywood movie industry.[132] Netanyahu's Indian visit also included efforts to revive Rafael missiles for Delhi.[132] Netanyahu was also the guest of honour, and delivered the inaugural address at India's annual strategic and diplomatic conference,Raisina Dialogue, where he highlighted various aspects ofIsrael's success story as a high-tech and innovation-based economy, and also spoke about challenges plaguing the Middle East, while expressing hope and optimism for the future of his country's relations with India.[136] Notable leaders who attended his conference includedNarendra Modi,Sushma Swaraj, former Afghan presidentHamid Karzai, Indian Minister of StateM J Akbar andIndian National Congress leaderShashi Tharoor. Netanyahu's sonYair Netanyahu was supposed to accompany the Israeli premier on an Indian state visit, but only a week prior to the visit a scandalous recording about Yair's private visit to a strip club with his friends was disclosed on Israel Television News' main broadcast.[132]
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New Delhi found in thedefense industry of Israel a useful source of weapons, one that could supply it with advanced military technology. Thus was established the basis of a burgeoning arms trade, which reached almost $600 million in 2016, making Israel the second-largest source of defense equipment for India, after Russia.[137]India and Israel have increased co-operation in military and intelligence ventures since the establishment of diplomatic relations. The rise ofIslamic extremist terrorism in both nations has generated a strong strategic alliance between the two.[138] In 2008, India launched amilitary satelliteTecSAR for Israel through itsIndian Space Research Organisation.[139]
When theResearch and Analysis Wing (RAW) was founded in September 1968 byR.N. Kao, he was advised by then Prime MinisterIndira Gandhi to cultivate links withMossad. This was suggested as a countermeasure to military links between that of Pakistan and China, as well as withNorth Korea. Israel was also concerned that Pakistani army officers were training Libyans and Iranians in handling Chinese and North Korean military equipments.[170]
Pakistan believed intelligence relations between India and Israel threatened Pakistani security. When young Israeli tourists began visiting the Kashmir valley in the early 1990s, Pakistan suspected they were disguised Israeli army officers there to help Indian security forces with anti-terrorism operations. Israeli tourists were attacked, with one slain and another kidnapped. Pressure from theKashmiri Muslim diaspora in theUnited States led to the kidnapped tourist's eventual release. Kashmiri Muslims feared that the attacks could isolate the American Jewish community, and result in them lobbying the US government against Kashmiri separatist groups.[170]
ARediff story in 2003 revealed clandestine links between R&AW and Mossad. In 1996, R.K. Yadav, a former RAW official had filed a disproportionate assets case in the Delhi High Court against Anand Kumar Verma, RAW chief between 1987 and 1990. Yadav listed eight properties that he claimed were purchased illegally by Verma using RAW's unaudited funds for secret operations. Although his petition for a CBI inquiry into Verma's properties was dismissed, Yadav managed to obtain more information through aright to information request in 2005 and filed another case in 2009. In 2013, the CBI carried out an investigation of Verma's properties. Proceedings in the Delhi High Court revealed the names of two companies operated by RAW in 1988 – Piyush Investments and Hector Leasing and Finance Company Ltd. The firms were headed by two senior RAW officials V. Balachandran and B. Raman. Balachandran and Raman retired in 1994 and 1995 respectively. The companies were listed as trading houses that dealt in several kinds of minerals, automobiles, textiles, metals and spare parts, and also claimed to produce feature films. The companies purchased two flats in Gauri Sadan, a residential building on Hailey Road, New Delhi in March 1989 for₹ 23 lakh.[171]
India Today reported that the two flats were RAW safe houses used as operational fronts for Mossad agents and housed Mossad's station chief between 1989 and 1992. RAW had reportedly decided to have closer ties to Mossad, and the subsequent secret operation was approved by then Prime MinisterRajiv Gandhi.India Today cites "RAW insiders" as saying that RAW agents hid a Mossad agent holding anArgentine passport and exchanged intelligence and expertise in operations, including negotiations for the release of an Israeli tourist by theJammu and Kashmir Liberation Front militants in June 1991. When asked about the case Verma refused to speak about the companies, but claimed his relationship with them was purely professional. Raman stated, "Sometimes, spy agencies float companies for operational reasons. All I can say is that everything was done with government approval. Files were cleared by the then prime minister [Rajiv Gandhi] and his cabinet secretary. Balachandran stated, "It is true that we did a large number of operations but at every stage, we kept the Cabinet Secretariat and the prime minister in the loop."[171]
In November 2015,The Times of India reported that agents from Mossad andMI5 were protecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Turkey. Modi was on a state visit to the United Kingdom and was scheduled to attend the 2015 G-20 Summit in Antalya, Turkey. The paper reported that the agents had been called in to provide additional cover to Modi's security detail, composed of India's Special Protection Group and secret agents from RAW and IB, in wake of theNovember 2015 Paris attacks.[172][173]
On 14 February 2019, a convoy of vehicles carrying security personnel on theJammu-Srinagar National Highway was attacked by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber at Lethpora in the Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. 40Central Reserve Police Force personals were killed by the bomber. Israel responded to India, offering unconditional support to the Indian Army and the Government. Israel has informed that they will share intelligence and technology to help India respond.[174]
Following thePahalgam attack on 22 April 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the incident as "barbaric" and affirmed that Israel stands with India in its fight against terrorism, with similar messages of solidarity echoed by Israel's Foreign Minister. After India'sOperation Sindoor on 7 May, Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, reiterated support for India's right to self-defense, stating that terrorists must know there is no safe haven for those committing heinous crimes against the innocent.[175][176]
Bilateral trade between India and Israel grew from $200 million in 1992 to $4.52 billion in 2014.[177][178] As of 2014, India is Israel's tenth-largest trade partner and import source, and seventh-largest export destination.[177] India's major exports to Israel include precious stones and metals, organic chemicals, electronic equipment, plastics, vehicles, machinery, engines, pumps, clothing and textiles, and medical and technical equipment. Israel's imports from India amounted to $2.3 billion or 3.2% of its overall imports in 2014.[179] Israel's major exports to India include precious stones and metals, electronic equipment, fertilisers, machines, engines, pumps, medical and technical equipment, organic and inorganic chemicals, salt, sulphur, stone, cement, and plastics. Israeli exports to India amounted to $2.2 billion or 3.2% of its overall exports in 2014.[180] The two countries have also signed a 'Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement'.[181]
In 2007, Israel proposed starting negotiations on a free trade agreement with India, and in 2010, then Indian prime ministerManmohan Singh accepted that proposal.[182][183] The agreement is set to focus on many key economic sectors, including information technology, biotechnology, water management, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture.[184] In 2013, then IsraeliMinister of EconomyNaftali Bennett projected a doubling of trade from $5 to $10 billion between the two countries, if a free trade agreement was successfully negotiated.[183] As of 2015, negotiations on a free trade agreement continue, with both countries considering negotiating a more narrow free trade agreement on goods, followed by separate agreements on trade in investment and services.[184]
Following the coronavirus pandemic, on 9 April 2020, India exported to Israel a five-ton shipment of drugs and chemicals. The consignment included ingredients for the drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. On this occasion, Sanjeev Singla, India's then ambassador to Israel, stressed the bilateral ties between both the countries. It was in March 2020, that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Modi to exempt Israel from the export ban on raw materials used to make medicines which would help in treating the patients affected with coronavirus.[185] Israel will be sending life-saving equipment includingoxygen generators andrespirators to India throughout the week to assist it in the fight againstcoronavirus.[186]
The 10 major commodities exported from India to Israel were:[179]
Israeli exports to India amounted to $2.3 billion or 3.8% of its overall exports in 2015. The 10 major commodities exported from Israel to India were:[180]
In 1993, during the visit to India of thenIsraeli Foreign MinisterShimon Peres, India and Israel signed an agreement on science and technology, which allowed for direct scientific cooperation between both governments. Specific areas of cooperation includedinformation technology,biotechnology,lasers, andelectro-optics. Additionally, a joint committee to monitor collaboration between the two nations was established and set to meet biennially.[187] In 1994, a $3 million joint science and technology fund was set up to facilitateR&D collaboration between both countries.[187]
In 1996, Indian scientists attended a seminar onadvanced materials in Israel. In 1997, Israeli scientists attended a seminar on biotechnology inDelhi. In 1998, India and Israel had 22 ongoing joint research projects. A joint symposium on thehuman genome was held inJerusalem, where six Indian scientists took part.[187][188] In November 1999, India and Israel agreed on four proposals for joint research projects in the field of human genome research.[187] In 2000, even more joint projects related to human genome research were agreed on, and a status seminar on this field was held in India.[189] In early 1999, more than 20 Israeli scientists participated in a physics symposium oncondensed matter in Delhi.[187] In 2001, a similar symposium was held in Jerusalem, with 18 Indian scientists attending.[190]
In 2003, both countries discussed doubling their investment in their ongoing science and technology collaboration to $1 million each, starting in October 2004.[191] In 2005, India and Israel signed amemorandum of understanding to set up a fund to encourage bilateral investment into industrial research and development and specific projects. Under the agreement, at least one Indian and one Israeli company must be collaborating on a project for that project to qualify for the fund. From 2006 to 2014, the fund, named i4RD, has been used in seven projects.[177][192][193][194] In 2012, the two countries signed a five-year $50 million academic research agreement for promoting collaborative research across a wide range of disciplines, including medical and information technology, social and life sciences, humanities, and the arts.[195][196]
In 2012, Israel stated its intent to increase technological and economic cooperation with the Indian state ofBihar, in the fields of agriculture, water management, solar energy, and medical insurance.[197] In 2014, Israel made plans to open two agriculturalcenters of excellence in Bihar, focusing on increasing productivity of vegetable and mango crops.[198]
Israel has offered to help the India government with a project to clean the Ganga. An Israeli delegation visited India in August 2015 and met with officials of the Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. Israeli ambassador to India Daniel Carmon also called on Union Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu to offer Israel's expertise in water management to battlewater scarcity. Ohad Horsandi, spokesperson of the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi stated that Israel was keen to help in India meet its water needs for agriculture and drinking, and was pushing for more government-to-government agreements.[199]
Following Prime Minister Modi's visit to Israel in 2017, there has been an increased call for collaboration between Israel and India on innovation development. The non-profit Indian based global trade bodyNASSCOM, along with the professional service companyAccenture, released the reportCollaborative Innovation: The Vehicle Driving Indo-Israel Prosperity, to highlight areas of scientific and technological collaboration between the two countries.[200] Additionally, the non-profit organization TAVtech Ventures is launching a program that connect students from Israel and the United States with local Indian students to come up with tech-based startups.[200][201]
In 2002, India and Israel signed a cooperative agreement promoting space collaboration between both nations.[202]
In 2003, theIsrael Space Agency, or ISA, expressed interest in collaborating with theIndian Space Research Organisation, or ISRO, in using satellites for improved management of land and other resources. Israel also expressed interest in participating in ISRO's proposedmission of sending an unmanned craft to the moon.[191] Additionally, the two countries signed an agreement outlining the deployment ofTAUVEX, an Israeli space telescope array, on India'sGSAT-4, a planned navigation and communication satellite.[191][202][203] In 2010, the TAUVEX array was removed from GSAT-4 by the ISRO, and the array was never subsequently launched.[204] The GSAT-4 itself failed to launch, due to the failure of itscryogenic engine.[204][205]
In 2005, Israel decided to launchTecSAR, its firstsynthetic aperture radar imaging satellite, on India'sPolar Satellite Launch Vehicle, or PSLV.[206] TecSAR was chosen to launch through India's PSLV due to Israeli concerns about the reliability and technical limitations of its ownShavit space launch vehicle, economic considerations, and also due to Israel's desire to increase strategic cooperation with India.[206][207] In 2008, TecSAR was successfully inserted into orbit by India's PSLV.[208] One of TecSAR's primary functions is to monitorIran's military activities.[209][210][211][212]
In 2009, India successfully launchedRISAT-2, a synthetic aperture radar imaging satellite.[213] RISAT-2 was manufactured byIsrael Aerospace Industries, or IAI, in conjunction with ISRO.[214][215] The launch of the RISAT-2 satellite aimed to provide India with greater earth observation power, which would improve disaster management, and increase surveillance and defense capabilities.[14][216] The acquisition and subsequent launch of the RISAT-2 satellite was accelerated after the2008 Mumbai attacks, to boost India's future surveillance capabilities.[217]
India has chosen Israel as a strategic partner (G2G) in the field of agriculture.This partnership evolved into the Indo-Israel Agricultural Project (IIAP), under the Indo Israel Action Plan, based on a MOU signed by Indian and Israeli ministers of Agriculture in 2006.[218] The partnership aim to introduce crop diversity, increasing productivity & increasing water use efficiency. IIAP has been initiated in 2009 after signing a bilateral agreement between Indian and Israeli ministers of Agriculture (2006). IIAP is implemented via establishment of Centers of Excellence (CoE), in which Israeli Technologies and know-how are disseminated tailored to local Indian conditions. Till date three phases of IIAP has been channeled. Each IIAP phase lasts for three years (2009–2012; 2012–2015, 2015–2018).Within the 16 States that has been invited to take part in the IIAP, 22 CoE's are currently into the fully active stage.[219]
Acknowledging the success of MIDH MASHAV IIAP Program as implemented during the last decade a three-year work program in Agriculture" 2018–2020 was signed between theMinistry of Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare of the Republic of India andMashav[220]- Ministry of Foreign Affairs Israel to increase the value chain demonstrated with the fully operative Indo-Israel Center of Excellence by introducing new components including theIndo-Israeli Centre of Excellence for Animal Husbandary & Dairying, Hisar. Center of Excellence (CoE) is a platform for knowledge transfer and Israeli Agro-Technology. As a goal the CoE aims to serve the farmer with a focus on a key crop. Each CoE is composed of Nursery management, Cultivation techniques, and Irrigation and fertigation.
Also in 2008, Israel and India finalised an agricultural plan introducing crops native to theMiddle East andMediterranean to India, with a particular focus onolives.[221] Subsequently, around 112,000 olive trees were planted in the desert ofRajasthan.[222][223] In 2014, more than 100 tonnes of olives were produced in Rajasthan.[224]
Israel is conducting a recruitment drive in India to address its growing demand for skilled construction workers. This initiative, facilitated by a government-to-government agreement, is focused on recruiting up to 10,000 Indian workers. The recruitment process is taking place at various locations across India, including the Industrial Training Institute in Aundh, Pune.
The Indian government is supporting this effort by providing infrastructure and logistical assistance. This recruitment drive offers Indian workers the opportunity for international employment and competitive salaries. To date, thousands of Indian workers have already been deployed to Israel.[225]
With the recent discovery of theTamar andLevianthan gas fields off the coast of Israel, India has been one of the first countries to bid for anexploration license in order to extract and import natural gas from the fields.[226] India'sONGC Videsh, Bharat PetroResources, Indian Oil and Oil India were awarded an exploration license by the Israeli government, a clear sign of the ongoing diversification in ties between the two countries.
In 2011, cultural artists and performers from India arrived in Israel to participate in a three-week festival commemorating 20 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. According to India's then ambassador to IsraelNavtej Sarna, the purpose of the festival was to improve the bilateral relationship between the two countries by facilitating a greater understanding of each other's culture.[227]
According to a 2009 international study commissioned by theIsraeli Foreign Ministry, the greatest level of sympathy towards Israel can be found in India, with 58% of Indian respondents showing sympathy towards Israel.[228]
As reported in 2015,opinion polls taken in India showed 70% and above of respondents had favorable views of Israel.[229]
In 2015, theUnited Nations General Assembly voted unanimously in favour of adopting 21 June asInternational Yoga Day.[230] In a clear sign of growing affinity between the two countries, the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv organizes annual yoga day celebrations, where Israelis from all walks of life take part in various yogic exercises. Yoga has proven to be immensely popular in Israel and is a sign of Israel's cultural connection to India.[231]
In 2019, Israel was a country partner at an event scheduled to be held in the central universityJamia Millia Islamia. Israel's involvement was protested against by students for their "occupation of Palestine." The university relented and announced that "it would not allow Israeli delegates to take part in events on the campus in future." Some Members of Parliament (MPs) had also lent support to the protesting students. The teachers association at Jamia had in 2014 protested against theIsraeli offensive in Gaza and were joined by various activists, academicians, human rights defenders and members of civil society.[232][233][234]
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Around 40,000 Israelis, many of whom have just finishedmilitary service,[235] visit India annually.[227] There are dozens ofChabad-operated community centers in India, where many Israelis celebrate holidays and observe religious traditions.[236] Popular destinations for Israelis includeGoa,[237] theHimalayas,Manali,Vashisht,Naggar,Kasol, and the villages surroundingDharamsala.[238] In many of these areas, Hebrew signs on businesses and public transportation are widely noticeable.[238]
The number of tourists from India visiting Israel touched 15,900 in the year 2000.[239] By 2010, the number of tourists had increased to 43,439.[240] In 2014, the number of tourists from India visiting Israel was 34,900.[241] A popular destination for Indian tourists traveling to Israel isJerusalem.[242] In part of 2010, Indian tourists were the biggest spenders in Israel, spending an average of $1,364 per tourist; the average tourist expenditure in Israel during this time was $1,091.[243]
In 2011, representatives from both countries met in Delhi, and planned to enhance tourism through collaboration in the spheres of destination management and promotion, as well as in manpower development. Plans for tour-operators and travel agents in both countries to coordinate were also discussed.[240] In 2015, 600 travel agents from India arrived in Israel for the annual Travel Agents Federation of India conference, and ways to decrease barriers to tourism were discussed.[241] Currently,El Al flies between Tel Aviv and Mumbai,Air India flies between Delhi and Tel Aviv, andArkia flies between Tel Aviv andKochi as well as Tel Aviv andGoa.
In March 2018, Air India, operating flight number AI139, became the first airline to fly non-stop fromNew Delhi toTel Aviv, via the airspace ofSaudi Arabia, overturning an overfly ban on flights toIsrael that had lasted 70 years. Currently, Air India is the only airline in the world that has been given such permission, and indicates a behind-the-scenes improvement in relations between Israel and the Arab world.[244] The new flight takes approximately 7 hours to traverse the distance between India and Israel, which is 2 hours and 10 minutes shorter than the route taken by El Al from Mumbai to Tel Aviv. In recent days, the success of the route has prompted the airline to increase the frequency of flights to one each day.[245]
In recent months,Israel has observed a constant rise in the number of Indian tourists to the country. Towards an additional effort to boost tourism from India, the Israeli government has simplified visa procedures for Indians who have already availed visas from eitherCanada,Australia,United States,Schengen countries or Israel and have completed their travel to these countries.[246] Visa processing fees for Indian applicants has also been reduced from the original 1700 to 1100.[247] In the year 2017, Indian tourist arrivals to Israel rose by 31%, with over 60,000 tourists visiting the country that year.[248] Israel plans to meet a target of over 100,000 Indian tourists for the year 2018.[249]
From 1 January 2025, theMinistry of Tourism of Israel has launched a digital e-visa system for Indian travellers. This initiative aligns with Israel's broader strategy to enhance tourism ties with India, a rapidly growing market for international visitors.[250][251]
In February 2007, the first Jewish-Hindu interfaith leadership summit was held inNew Delhi.[252] The summit included the thenChief Rabbi of IsraelYona Metzger, theAmerican Jewish Committee's International Director of Interreligious AffairsDavid Rosen, a delegation ofchief rabbis from around the world, and Hindu leaders from India.[252][253][254] During the summit, Rabbi Metzger stated that Jews have lived in India for over 2,000 years and have never been discriminated against. This is something unparalleled in human history.[252]
In August 2007, amidst protests,[254] a delegation ofIndian Muslim leaders and journalists traveled to Israel.[255][256] The visit was touted as a dialogue of democracies,[256] and was organised by the American Jewish Committee's India office.[255] During this trip, Maulana Jameel Ahmed Ilyasi, the then secretary-general of the All-India Association of Imams and Mosques, praised the mutual respect Israeli Arabs and Israeli Jews have for each other, and encouraged resolving problems by dialogue rather than violence.[255] Muslim leaders met with then presidentShimon Peres, where Peres highlighted the coexistence of religions in Jerusalem and India's struggle with terror and separatism.[255]
In 2008, a second Hindu-Jewish summit took place in Jerusalem.[257][258] Included in the summit was a meeting between Hindu groups and then Israeli presidentShimon Peres, where the importance of a strong Israeli-Indian relationship was discussed.[258] The Hindu delegation also met with Israeli politiciansIsaac Herzog andMajalli Wahabi.[258] Hindu groups visited and said their prayers at theWestern Wall, and also paid their respects toHolocaust victims.[258]
In 2009, a smaller Hindu-Jewish interfaith meeting organised by theHindu American Foundation and the American Jewish Committee was held inNew York City andWashington.[257] Hindu and Jewish representatives gave presentations, and participants wore lapel pins combining the Israeli, Indian, and American flags.[257]
In November 2012, Israeli presidentShimon Peres remarked, "I think India is the greatest show of how so many differences in language, in sects can coexist facing great suffering and keeping full freedom."[103]
In 2019, a large scale summit to further boost Hindu-Jewish cultural ties was organized by Indo-Israel Friendship Association inMumbai. Many important leaders likeSubramanian Swamy attended the event.[259]
The history of the Jewish people in India dates back to ancient times.[260][261][262]Judaism was one of the first foreign religions to arrive in India inrecorded history.[263]IndianJews are a religious minority of India, but unlike many parts of the world, have historically lived in India without any instances ofantisemitism from the local majority populace, theHindus. The better-established ancient communities have assimilated a large number of local traditions throughcultural diffusion.[264] The Jewish population in India is hard to estimate since each Jewish community is distinct with different origins; while some allegedly arrived during the time of theKingdom of Judah, others are seen by some as descendants of Israel'sTen Lost Tribes.[265] In addition to Jewish expatriates[266] and recent immigrants, there are several distinct Jewish groups in India:
The majority of Indian Jews have madeAliyah (migrated) toIsrael since the creation of the modern state in 1948. Over 70,000 Indian Jews now live in Israel (over 1% of Israel's total population).[citation needed] Of the remaining 5,000, the largest community is concentrated inMumbai, where 3,500 have stayed over from the over 30,000 Jews registered there in the 1940s, divided intoBene Israel andBaghdadi Jews,[275] though the Baghdadi Jews refused to recognize the B'nei Israel as Jews, and withheld dispensing charity to them for that reason.[276] There are reminders of Jewish localities in Kerala still left such as synagogues.
In the beginning of the 21st century, new Jewish communities have been established in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, and other cities in India. The new communities have been established by the Chabad-Lubavitch movement which has sent rabbis to create those communities. The communities serve the religious and social needs of Jewish business people who have immigrated to or are visiting India, and Jewish backpackers touring India. The largest centre is theNariman House in Mumbai. There are currently 33synagogues in India, although many no longer function as such and today vary in their levels of preservation.[277][278][279]
58% of Indian respondents showed sympathy to theJewish State. TheUnited States came in second, with 56% of American respondents sympathizing withIsrael. Other countries that showed significant sympathy to Israel includedRussia (52%)Mexico (52%) andChina (50%). At the bottom of the list, the study rankedBritain (34%)France (27%) andSpain (23%) as the least sympathetic countries towards Israel.
As part of their visit, the parties intend to discuss the security situation in West Asia, including in Pakistan and in Iran. In addition, they will aim to analyze new trends in international terrorism and assess the current situation in the Middle East and South Asia.
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