A Timeline of India-Israel Relations
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Phase I: 1947–1991
Ideological Opposition & Covert Ties
- 1947: India, on the UN Special Committee on Palestine, opposes the creation of Israel; votes against UN Resolution 181 (Partition Plan).
- 1950 (Sep 17): India grants de jure recognition to Israel but withholds full diplomatic relations.
- 1953: Israel opens a “trade and consulate” office in Bombay (now Mumbai).
- 1962, 1965, 1971: Israel covertly supplies weapons to India during wars with China and Pakistan.
- 1974: India recognizes the PLO as the sole representative of the Palestinian people.
- 1988: India grants full diplomatic recognition to the State of Palestine.
Phase II: 1992–2013
De-Hyphenation & Strategic Deepening
- 1992 (Jan 29): India establishes full diplomatic relations with Israel.
- 1996: India buys 32 IAI Searcher drones from Israel.
- 1997: India signs Barak-1 missile deal with Israel.
- 1999: During the Kargil War, Israel supplies India with PGMs and surveillance drones.
- 2000: India-Israel Joint Anti-Terror Commission established.
- 2003: Ariel Sharon visits India; Phalcon AWACS deal finalized.
- 2008: ISRO launches Israel’s TecSAR military satellite.
- 2008–2012: Major arms deals — SPYDER air defense systems, Heron drones, Barak-8 missile development.
- By 2012: Israel becomes India's second-largest arms supplier.
Phase III: 2014–Present
Ideological & Strategic Fusion
- 2014–present: Growing ideological alignment between Hindutva and Zionism; security and surveillance cooperation expands.
- 2017 (July): Modi visits Israel (skips Ramallah); relationship upgraded to "Strategic Partnership"; $4.3B in deals signed; I4F fund established.
- 2018: Adani and Elbit Systems launch Hermes 900 drone plant in Hyderabad.
- 2019 (Feb): Indian Air Force uses Israeli SPICE-2000 bombs in Balakot airstrike.
- 2019: Post-Article 370, Israeli surveillance tech deployed in Kashmir; Indian discourse references “Israel model” for Kashmir.
- 2021: Pegasus spyware used on Indian targets; government refuses official probe.
- 2023 (Jan): Adani Group acquires Haifa Port for $1.2B.
2023–2024 Developments
- Adani-Elbit delivers India-made Hermes 900 drones (Drishti-10).
- Reports emerge of Indian exports of drone components and munitions to Israel used in Gaza genocide.
- (Oct 2023): India abstains on UN resolution for Gaza truce, citing omission of Hamas condemnation.
- (Apr 2024): India abstains on UNHRC arms embargo resolution against Israel.
- (Sep 2024): Indian Supreme Court dismisses petition to halt arms exports to Israel.
Ongoing
- Protests against India-Israel ties grow; suppressed or ignored by media.
- Expansion in agri-tech, water, and digital sectors; FTA in final stages.
- India participates in I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-US) bloc.