GEOPLITICS AND INDIA: A small effort to make the subject more interesting by letting people know, where do we stand at the global stage!

A particular group of people have (already) started speaking in favour of Palestine, while on the other hand, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his full support to Israel, which is also a right decision because Israel had helped India during the India-Pakistan war in 1971 and then during the Kargil war in 1999. India had received help from Israel during this time too and during the Covid period. After all this happened in Israel, Israel sounded the alarm of war against Palestine and after that some such news was seen If it was a matter of war, every country had to choose its side. The USA chose Israel and prepared to send its army and weapons to Israel. Many other European countries including Germany and France also chose Israel, but Qatar, Kuwait, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia chose Palestine (Lebanon even launched rockets at Israel).

Saudi’s Role (Or Involvement???)

It is possible that this war may become a multi-national war, but in such a situation, the biggest question is why Hamas suddenly attacked Israel. So, no one can give a definite answer to this, but this is what Hamas is doing. The attack on Israel took place exactly the next day on which the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War was celebrated. Now what is this Yom Kippur War? So, in 1973, the Arab World, which was led by Egypt and Syria at that time, gave a “bloody surprise” to Israel. Despite not being directly involved, even Saudi Arabia had sent its forces to help Syria. Even though Israel had won that war, Israel had suffered so much damage that it had reached the negotiating table and many experts said that Egypt did not fight that war to win but only to subdue Israel and Hamas again, has made a similar surprise attack on Israel in which (again!) Saudi Arabia is also supporting Hamas. Now, a big question arises again here – What the heck is the role of Saudi Arabia in all this frenzy of Israel-Palestine?

For the last few months, Israel and Saudi Arabia have been engaged in improving their relations. Saudi and Israel were also about to make a peace deal which was It was supposed to be the deal of the century and the USA was brokering this deal. Now Saudi wanted this deal so that it could establish good relations with the USA and they would eventually help them against Iran. Iran was expanding its missile base, which was a very problematic thing for Saudi. Saudi was looking for its own benefit by making a deal with the USA & Israel, and next year, the presidential elections are coming in the USA and if Biden makes a deal with Israel and Saudi (who have always been enemies), then for Joe Biden this is a big diplomatic win in this geopolitical arena. At the same time, if Israel’s relations are good for a century, then Saudi can legitimize it as a sovereign nation and if Saudi legitimizes it, then the countries like Malaysia and Indonesia will also open for Israel for trade and Hamas, which is backed by the Hezbollah (which is, in turn, backed by Iran) desperately wants to stop Israel from getting legitimized by Saudi. So maybe, that is why this war was started in which, eventually Saudi has sided with Palestine.

Digging up the Past – Formation of a “Jewish Homeland”

The late 19th century saw the widespread consolidation of a Jewish nationalist movement known as Zionism, as part of which Aliyah (Jewish return to the Land of Israel from the diaspora) increased. During World War I, the Sinai and Palestine campaigns of the Allies led to the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire. Britain was granted control of the region by League of Nations mandate, in what became known as Mandatory Palestine. The British government publicly committed itself to the creation of a Jewish homeland. Arab nationalism opposed this design, asserting Arab rights over the former Ottoman territories and seeking to prevent Jewish migration. As a result, Arab–Jewish tensions grew in the succeeding decades of British administration, until the year 1947-48.

The Balfour Declaration was a public statement issued by the British government in 1917 during the First World War announcing its support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, then an Ottoman region with a small minority Jewish population. The declaration was contained in a letter dated 2 November 1917 from the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to Lord Rothschild, a leader of the British Jewish community, for transmission to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland. The text of the declaration was published in the press on 9 November 1917. The declaration also called for safeguarding the civil and religious rights of the Palestinian Arabs, who composed the vast majority of the local population, and also the rights and political status of the Jewish communities in other countries outside of Palestine. The declaration had many long-lasting consequences. It greatly increased popular support for Zionism within Jewish communities worldwide, and became a core component of the British Mandate for Palestine, the founding document of Mandatory Palestine. It also indirectly led to the emergence of Israel.

In 1948, the Israeli Declaration of Independence sparked the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, which resulted in the 1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight and subsequently led to waves of Jewish emigration from other parts of the Middle East. Today, approximately 43 % of the global Jewish population resides in Israel. In 1979, the Egypt–Israel peace treaty was signed, based on the Camp David Accords. In 1993, Israel signed the Oslo I Accord with the Palestine Liberation Organization, which was followed by the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority. In 1994, the Israel–Jordan peace treaty was signed. Despite efforts to finalize the peace agreement, the conflict continues to play a major role in Israeli and international political, social, and economic life.

India’s Role in the Conflict, and the lessons we can draw Today

India’s role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been complex and evolving over time. In the early years of the conflict, India supported the Palestinian cause, reflecting its own commitment to anti-colonialism and self-determination. However, in recent years, India has developed closer ties with Israel, driven by shared security interests and economic cooperation.

Here is a brief timeline of India’s role in the Israel-Palestine conflict:

• 1947: India votes in favour of the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, which calls for the creation of two separate states, one Jewish and one Arab.
• 1948-1967: India supported the Arab cause in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and the 1967 Six-Day War. India also provides financial and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians.
• 1974: India recognizes the State of Israel.
• 1981: India establishes diplomatic relations with Israel.
• 1992: India opens a trade mission in Tel Aviv.
• 1999: Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visits Israel, the first Indian prime minister to do so.
• 2003: India and Israel signed a free trade agreement.
• 2008: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visits Israel, the second Indian prime minister to do so.
• 2014: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Israel, the third Indian prime minister to do so. Modi’s visit marks a significant turning point in India-Israel relations.
• 2017: India opens an embassy in Tel Aviv.
• 2018: Israel opens an embassy in New Delhi.
• 2023: India and Israel sign a defence cooperation agreement.

India’s role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been criticized by some who argue that India is abandoning its traditional support for the Palestinian cause. However, India has defended its position, arguing that it has a right to maintain relations with both Israel and the Palestinians. India has also stated that it remains committed to a two-state solution to the conflict, with Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas is a complex and nuanced issue, and there is no easy answer to the question of what India and Indians can learn from it. However, there are a few key points that may be relevant:

• The importance of intelligence: Israel has a highly sophisticated intelligence apparatus that allows it to track the movements of Hamas militants and plan its operations accordingly. India should invest in its intelligence capabilities to ensure that it is able to anticipate and respond to threats from its adversaries.
• The need for a strong military: Israel has a powerful military that is capable of deterring and defeating its enemies. India should maintain a strong military to deter aggression from its neighbours and protect its national security interests.
• The importance of public support: The Israeli people have largely supported the government’s actions in the conflict with Hamas. This is due in part to the fact that the Israeli people have a deep understanding of the security threat posed by Hamas. India needs to educate its citizens about the security threats it faces and build public support for its security policies.

In addition to these general lessons, there are a few specific things that India can learn from Israel’s experience in dealing with Hamas:

• The importance of targeted strikes: Israel has been very effective in using targeted strikes to eliminate Hamas leaders and militants. India can learn from Israel’s experience in conducting targeted strikes against its own adversaries.
• The need to protect civilians: Israel has taken great care to avoid civilian casualties in its operations against Hamas. India should also take steps to minimize civilian casualties in its operations against its adversaries.
• The importance of diplomacy: Israel has been able to maintain international support for its actions against Hamas through a combination of diplomacy and public relations. India should also use diplomacy and public relations to build international support for its security policies.

It is important to note that the situation in Israel is very different from the situation in India. India faces a variety of security threats, including terrorism, insurgency, and border disputes. It is also important to note that the Israeli government’s actions in the conflict with Hamas have been criticized by some human rights groups.

Despite these differences, there are some lessons that India can learn from Israel’s experience in dealing with Hamas. By investing in its intelligence capabilities, maintaining a strong military, educating its citizens about the security threats it faces, and using targeted strikes and diplomacy effectively, India can improve its ability to deter and defeat its adversaries.