India - Israel relations

02 Jul, 2026 Samyak IAS

India–Israel relations have transformed from limited diplomatic contact into a warm and forward-looking strategic partnership. India and Israel cooperate across defence, security, innovation, agriculture, water, science and technology, reflecting the multi-dimensional nature of the partnership.

Historical Development of India–Israel Relations

Phase	Key Developments
Distant and Hesitant Phase 1948–1992	India recognised Israel in 1950, but did not establish full diplomatic relations due to Cold War politics, NAM commitments, domestic sensitivities, and support for the Palestinian cause. Israel was allowed to open only a consulate in Mumbai. Despite this, limited covert defence cooperation took place, especially during the 1965 and 1971 wars.
Full Normalisation and Defence Pivot 1992–2014	India established full diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992, after the end of the Cold War and India’s economic liberalisation. Defence and security became central to the relationship. During the 1999 Kargil War, Israel supplied India with crucial military equipment, including laser-guided missile kits and UAV support.
De-hyphenation and Strategic Alignment 2014–Present	India adopted a de-hyphenation policy, treating ties with Israel and Palestine separately. In 2017, Narendra Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel. Cooperation expanded beyond defence into agriculture, water, innovation, technology, and multilateral platforms like I2U2 involving India, Israel, the US, and the UAE.

Areas of Cooperation between India and Israel

Defence and Security: Israel is one of India’s major defence suppliers, providing radars, drones, surveillance systems and missile defence technologies. The Barak-8 missile system reflects joint defence development, while cooperation is increasingly moving towards co-production and R&D under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Counter-Terrorism and Intelligence: Both countries cooperate closely in intelligence sharing, training and counter-terrorism due to shared security concerns.
Agriculture and Water Management: Since the 1993 agriculture cooperation agreement, India and Israel have worked on soil and water management, horticulture, farm mechanisation, post-harvest technology and animal husbandry. The Indo-Israel Agricultural Project and Centres of Excellence promote micro-irrigation, protected cultivation and high-yield farming.
Water Technology: Israel supports India in areas such as desalination, water recycling, wastewater treatment and efficient water-use technologies.
Cybersecurity and Innovation: Cooperation includes cybersecurity and joint industrial R&D through the India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F) in sectors such as agriculture, water, energy, healthcare and ICT.
Regional and Economic Cooperation: Through platforms like I2U2, India and Israel collaborate with the US and UAE on food security, water, energy, transport and infrastructure, strengthening the regional dimension of their partnership.

India’s Stand on Israel–Palestine Conflict

India has historically supported the Palestinian cause, shaped by NAM, Arab world consensus, UN positions and Nehruvian foreign policy principles.
India was among the last non-Muslim countries to recognise Israel, but became the first non-Arab country to recognise the PLO.
India supports a two-state solution as the most viable path for lasting peace between Israel and Palestine.
India maintains that peace should be achieved through direct negotiations between both sides.
Under its de-hyphenation policy, India treats its relations with Israel and Palestine separately, strengthening ties with Israel while continuing support for the Palestinian cause.

India–Israel Relations: Significance

Strategic convergence: Shared concerns on terrorism and security have brought both countries closer.
Defence partnership: Israel is a major supplier of drones, missiles, air defence systems and surveillance technology to India.
Counter-terrorism: Strong cooperation in intelligence-sharing, training and security technologies.
Trade and investment: Bilateral trade has diversified beyond diamonds to chemicals, electronics, medical equipment and high-tech products.
Agriculture and water: Israeli expertise in drip irrigation, precision farming, desalination and water recycling supports India’s farm and water security.
Innovation: Cooperation in cybersecurity, AI, start-ups and industrial R&D strengthens India’s technology ecosystem.

Key Challenges

Palestine issue: India must balance growing Israel ties with its traditional support for Palestine.
Gulf interests: Energy dependence and the Indian diaspora in Gulf countries require careful diplomacy.
Iran factor: Israel views Iran as a threat, while India sees Iran as important for Chabahar and Central Asia access.
China concern: India remains cautious about Israel’s high-tech links with China.
Technology transfer limits: Full transfer of sensitive defence technology remains restricted.
Trade bottlenecks: FTA delays, market-access issues and IPR concerns limit trade expansion.
Strategic autonomy: India avoids rigid blocs and prefers balanced relations with all major regional powers.

The Prime Minister’s visit to Israel marks a new phase in India–Israel relations, elevating cooperation across defence, AI, cybersecurity, trade, agriculture, labour mobility and education.

For India, the partnership supports Viksit Bharat 2047 by leveraging Israel’s technology, expanding markets, protecting worker interests and strengthening regional connectivity through IMEC and I2U2.

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