Strategic Assessment
The relationship between India and Israel is marked by political and diplomatic pragmatism and mutual interests. For a long time after gaining independence in 1947, India supported the Palestinian cause out of some very practical reasons. However, democracy has provided a sense of stability and security, and since the 1990s, India and Israel have balanced their relationship based on business and security issues. Terrorism is one such issue that brought the two countries together, particularly after the Mumbai terror attack in 2008. In tandem, there are many other areas in which India and Israel can work together, such as surveillance equipment manufacturing in India, which also involves Transfer of Technology and Research and Development. Israeli expertise in software development, water management, and dry farming are promising sectors in which institutions and corporate sectors of both countries work together and thereby strengthen institution-to-institution and people-to-people contacts. Israel and India can also explore joint projects in different countries of common strategic and economic interest. Overall, the potential of the relationship between the two countries has yet to be fully realized.