A critical evaluation of evolution of Indo-Israel relations

India‟s foreign policy since independence has been guided by diverse approaches in different periods. Soon after independence, India decided to follow an independent course of political interaction between and among nation as the Cold War had set in and the power rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union was gaining momentum. In such a backdrop, India‟s intention to join either bloc could have jeopardized her politico-economic growth and constitutional aspirations. The interim government led by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru made it clear that India would embark on an independent path of foreign policy making. Among diverse approaches to a nation‟s foreign policy, Nehru chose Idealism as a guiding principle of India‟s foreign policy. Nehru prioritized internationalism over nationalism and this is why he maintained a distance from both power bloc, the USA and the USSR: he chose non-alignment, For Nehru, however, non-alignment did not mean, as he declared many a time, avoiding closer relation with some countries than with other. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of newly-carved out country was hesitant in recognising the State of Israel when it sought international recognition. As India's foreign policy was influenced by the Cold War alignment, India at the same time did not intend to join either bloc as the same could hamper India's independent course of action. As regards Israel, India led by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, remained hesitant to recognise Israel owing to domestic as well as geostrategic concerns. Further, India‟s anti-Israel stance was also part of the larger Indian diplomatic strategy of trying to counter Pakistan‟s influence in the Arab world and of safeguarding its oil supplies from Arab countries. It also ensured jobs for thousands of Indians in the Gulf, helping India to keep its foreign exchange reserves afloat. India and Israel also ended up on the opposite sides during the cold war, with the United States strongly supporting Israel, while India‟s sympathies were toward the Soviet Union despite its non-aligned posture.