India's Shift on Israel-Palestine
! India's Shift on Israel-Palestine: An Analysis
! The Historical Context of India-Israel Relations
''What was India's traditional stance towards Israel and the Palestinian cause?''
Historically, India kept its distance from Israel and was a prominent international supporter of the Palestinian cause.
India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, advocated for the creation of a secular state in Palestine where the Jewish minority would enjoy protections, and India had long opposed the creation of the State of Israel itself.
This approach was rooted in India's own experience of partition, which its early leaders saw as proof of the folly of ethno-nationalism.
''Why did India's early leaders view Israel with suspicion?''
India's early political elite viewed Israel and Zionism suspiciously because their own nation was founded on the principle of secular democracy for all citizens, a direct response to the bloody partition with Pakistan, which was based on religious identity.
Israel, in contrast, was established as an avowedly Jewish state, making it seem more like a Middle Eastern Pakistan to Indian leaders. This led India's sympathies to align with the Palestinian refugees displaced during Israel's creation.
! The Shift Under Prime Minister Modi
''How and when did India's policy towards Israel begin to change?''
The shift began after Narendra Modi became prime minister in 2014, as he gradually worked to strengthen ties between New Delhi and Jerusalem.
The decisive break came after the October 7, 2023 attacks. India began abstaining from UN votes critical of Israel, sent weapons, and deepened economic ties even as the Gaza war intensified, effectively siding with Israel.
''What concrete evidence shows the deepening India-Israel partnership?''
The partnership is evident in several areas. India explicitly cites Israel as an inspiration for its counterterrorism policies.
More tangibly, India now makes up roughly half (46 percent) of all foreign purchases of Israeli arms. Prime Minister Modi's recent visit to Israel, where he spoke at the Knesset, served as an official confirmation of the new alliance.
! The Ideological Alignment Between Modi and Netanyahu
''What is the core ideological link between the governments of Modi and Netanyahu?''
The link is a shared belief in ethno-nationalism. Both leaders see the nation in terms of a single people with a legitimate claim to ownership.
Modi, a believer in the chauvinist Hindutva ideology, seeks to replace India's secular democracy with a state by and for the Hindu majority. Similarly, Netanyahu and his allies embrace a hardline version of Zionism that prioritizes the Jewish character of the Israeli state.
''How does this ideology affect their view of Muslim minorities?''
Both share a special antipathy for Muslims living on land they see as rightfully theirs, viewing them as interlopers.
After October 7, leaders of the Hindutva movement expressed solidarity with Israel while denouncing Muslims in general. This pro-Israel bias was so widespread that India's judiciary echoed it by banning demonstrations in support of Palestinians.
! The "Nationalist International" and Global Implications
''What is the "nationalist international" and how does it apply to India and Israel?''
The "nationalist international" is the concept of far-right movements and governments sharing knowledge and coordinating activities to advance their shared struggle against the liberal international order.
Unlike some nationalist movements that have conflicts of interest, India and Israel are separated by geography and history, allowing them to freely prioritize their shared ideological interests—such as a hostility to Islamism and a "might makes right" ethos—and become stable partners.
''Why does this growing partnership matter for the future of global politics?''
The India-Israel alignment offers a glimpse into a possible future where human rights concerns are no longer a burden on international relations.
It represents a network of governments, united in part by hostility to Muslims, that feel free to act on unrestrained impulses. This trend is enabled by the weakening of the old rules about human rights and international law, suggesting a future where such ties between illiberal governments become an increasingly important part of the global landscape.