Dynamics of Diplomacy Delayed: India and Israel

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The book is bestowed with the unique feature of being the first comprehensive study ever made on India-Israel relations by an Indian Scholar. India had maintained a track record of marginalising the Jewish State ever since its inception. Apart from the political, diplomatic and strategic view points, India’s diplomatic behaviour with respect to Israel was always a focus of controversy and criticism. Despite keeping friendly relation and even defence deals at times of crisis, the book argues, India resisted the request of Israel for diplomatic ties.
The book, while examining this dynamism in India’s foreign policy, takes deviation from conventional research methods ands and examines empirically the factors and forces that have guided India’s relation towards Israel. The book objectively brings home the alchemy of policy shift and the potential possibilities and contradictions involved in the bilateral deal between the two States.

Contents

Foreword
Preface
Abbreviations
List of Tables and Figures
Introduction
The Problem; The Research Question; Hypotheses; Chapter Design; Review of Literature; Methodology; Scope and Limitations of the Study
India’s Foreign Policy Postures and West Asia
India’s Foreign Policy Objectives; Global Postures; Regional Postures; Sub-continental Postures; India’s West Asia Policy; Strategic and Security Priorities; Political and Diplomatic Priorities; Geo-political and Commercial Priorities; Domestic, Political and Economic Priorities
The Palestine Question and the Changing Nature of Indian Policy
The Khilafat Movement; The Palestine Question; Perceptions of Gandhi Ji; Perceptions of Nehru; India’s Role in the U.N.; The Suez Crisis and India; The 1967 war and India’s stand; India’s Support to P.L.O.; Yom Kippur War; India’s Defence P.L.O’s Diplomatic Status; The Algiers Declaration, March 1974; The Rabat Arab Summit, October 1974; Arafat’s Appearance at the U.N.; India’s Recognition of P.L.O.; India’s Advocacy at the U.N.; Response of the Janata Government; The Camp David Accord; India’s Full Diplomatic Status to P.L.O.; Israeli Invasion of Lebanon; The 7th Non-Aligned Summit and the Palestinian Cause; India’s Response to the Factional Crisis in P.L.O.; Re-orientation and Policy Shift.
 
Indo-Israeli Relations: The Challenging Dimensions
India and the Creation of Israel; India and the Question of Recognition of Israel; Recognition but no relationship Policy India’s Home work for a Policy Shift; The Propriety and the Rationale of the Indian Decision; Factors Responsible for the Policy Shift; General Response and Reaction
Indo-Israeli Relations: The Bilateral Phase
Major Areas of Bilateral Co-operation; Trade and Economic Co-operation; Co-operation in Tourism and Culture; Agricultural Co-operation; Scientific and Technological Co- operation; Security and Defence Co-operation; Military Co- operation: Myth or Reality?; Nature of Co-operation and Areas of Mutual Interests; Programmes of Upgradation and Modernisation; Missile Technology; Electronic Warfare; Nuclear Collaboration? Combating Terrorism and Intelligence Co-operation
Strategic Implications of Indo-Israeli Relations
India’s Strategic Priorities in the 21st Century; The U.S. Factor; The China Factor; The Pakistan Factor; The West Asia Factor; The Responses and Reactions of the Arab States; Implications of India’s West Asia Policy
Conclusion and Findings
A Re-visit to the Problem; Major Findings; Validation of Hypotheses; A Brief Summary; Limitations to the Study; Future of Indo Israeli Relations; The Study: An Overview
                  Appendices               
Bibligraphy
Index

Foreword

I have great pleasure in writing this Introductory note on Mr. Sreekantan Nair’s book: Dynamics of a Diplomacy Delayed: India and Israel. The work is a Case Study of Indo-Israeli Relations, which aims at an analytical interpretation of new orientations in India’s foreign policy strategy since the beginning of the 90’s of the last century.
This book of Mr. Sreekantan Nair is undoubtably the first comprehensive study of India’s relations with Israel by an Indian Scholar. The book has the additional virtue of studying the evolution of interaction between India and Israel in the context of India’s West Asia policies and relations with the Arab Countries.
Chapters 2 and 3 of the book are a comprehensive survey of the historical context in which Indo-Arab and Indo-Israel relations developed during the first 40 years of India’s Independence. The remaining Chapters of the book are a descriptive and multi-faceted analysis of the nature, the content and the prospects of Indo-Israeli relations and their ramifications on Indo-Israeli interests as well as India’s relations with the Arab and Muslim Countries.
The work is a notable example of rigour in research and analysis underpinned by clear perception of issues and India’s political strategy priorities.
The book is a timely contribution to the study of Indo-Israel relations. Its contents are equally relevant to the Scholar and the general observer interested in India’s foreign relations.
выли (J.N. DIXIT)
(India’s Foreign Secretary (Retd.)

Preface

India’s diplomatic attitude towards Israel has always remained a theme of controversy, embarrassment and estrangement. It also contributed a sentimental dimension to India’s national politics. The serious academic questions involved in India’s foreign policy behaviour with respect to the Arab States and Israel has always been an aspect of great concern. All these factors prompted me to take up seriously the present study. The work was previously presented in the form of a Doctoral thesis to the University of Kerala, India, in November 2000. To accomplish the text in the form of a book certain modifications are made without effecting any substantial additions to the basic arguments; for the reason that they are cent percent relevant even after a year of the completion of the study.
The book falls within the ambit of a bilateral enquiry, focussing on the different and variegated dimensions of Indo-Israeli relations. Contrary to any sort of conventional wisdom, this book takes a more objective, analytical and empirical approach to identify and analyse the alchemy of India’s anti- Israeli postures; the variables contributing to the policy-shift and significantly, the strategic implications of the bilateral relations between both the Countries. All these demanded a wider canvas-a period covering right from the very formation of the Jewish State to the present. The book, the maiden academic endeavour of its sort ever attempted in India; strives to present the Indo – Israeli relations, in its functional context and for that reason the author had to over-come many hurdles during the different stages of its growth and development. On all those occasions, the author was inspired, motivated and assisted by many from different walks of social life.
My gratitude is primarily due to Prof. Dr. G. Gopakumar, who guided and supervised the study. He gave me absolute freedom to roam far and wide, in search of the roots and dialectics of India’s diplomatic behaviour with respect to the State of Israel. I thankfully acknowledge the help received from Mr. K.P.S. Menon, Mr. A.K. Damodaran and Mr. Eric Gonsalves for sharing the experiences of their diplomatic career. Mr. J.N. Dixit, whose hospitality and open approach provided me full confidence, always remained a source of encouragement for accomplishing the work. He has thoroughly read the text and contributed a proud forword to the book.
New Delhi and Israeli Consulate in Bombay, respectively provided Dr. Yahoyada Haim and Mr. Gora Becher, of the Israeli Embassy the needed co-operation for making use of the facilities of their office. Mr. Rakesh Kumar, MEA, WANA, Division, Prof. K.R. Singh, Dr. A.K. Pasha and Prof. Gulshan Dietl were kind enough to spare their time to clarify many of my doubts and queries: Among those with whom I made serious discussions, debates and arguments regarding the different aspects of the study include Dr. K.M. Seethi and Dr. Raju Abraham. I would also thank Mr. B.R. Rajan and Mr. Salim M.A. for their timely help and sincere co-operation.
Finally, on a more personal note, I would thank Mini, my wife and Appus and Ammu my kids, for sparing me to make it all possible.
                                                Sreekantan Nair
 
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