India-Israel relations come out of Arab world shadow

[Bl[i]tZ]

NEW DELHI: The India-Israel relationship is finally out of the closet. In three days in Israel and Palestine, foreign minister S M Krishna showed that Indian foreign policy may have finally matured enough to be able to conduct perfectly normal, successful relations with Israel and the Arab world simultaneously, without worrying about hurting feelings or stepping on toes.


For years, India has conducted its relations with Israel almost covertly, as if trying to hide from the Arab world, where its traditional friends lay. But an official who was part of Krishna's meetings in Israel observed, "This visit proved that at the highest levels, India and Israel can openly discuss issues of interest and concern with each other like other normal partners, without inhibitions."

That, in essence was the greatest strategic takeaway from Krishna's visit to Israel, the first in over a decade, with a country that has rapidly become one of India's most important partners, particularly in critical areas of security, defence and what matters to Indians most, agriculture. Already, hundreds of Israeli and Indian companies work together in security, agriculture, technology and alternative energy, real estate, pharmaceutics, telecom etc.

While the tangible deliverables were about agriculture and research and development -- Israel now has 27 agriculture projects in over seven Indian states and will sponsor 100 post-doctoral scholarships for Indians -- the discussions were much more substantive. In his public interactions, Krishna unhesitatingly detailed counter-terrorism, security and defence as the big areas of connect with Israel.

Israeli minister for internal security Yitzhak Aharonovitch had visited India recently where the primary discussions were about tackling terrorism.

Interestingly, while Krishna was being presented with a specially signed tennis racquet as an acknowledgment of his sporting love, premier Israeli business media Globes reported that Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) was signing its largest-ever defence deal with India, over $1.1 billion worth of missiles, anti-missile systems, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), intelligence and other systems.

IAI informed the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange of the deal on Wednesday but withheld the name of the customer. While speculation had South Korea as one of the possible customers, Globes reported from its sources that the recipient country was India and the negotiations had been personally led by the CEO Yitzhak Nissan. According to estimates, defence trade between India and Israel amounted to almost $9 billiion.

The new element in bilateral relations is energy. As first reported by TOI, Israel has evinced interest in exporting gas to India, having made massive gas discoveries offshore in fields named Tamar and Leviathan.

Indian and Israeli officials reportedly discussed ways of getting the gas to India, because India remains one of the biggest gas customers and currently relies on Qatar for most of its gas imports.

None of this closeness though, will change India's voting record in the UN substantially. India has consistently voted against Israel. But despite their evident disappointment, Israel has refrained from haranguing India on the issue.

"There are several sectors in which India and Israel will be working together, are working together and which are critical for both the economies," Indian ambassador to Israel Navtej Sarna was quoted as saying.

India-Israel relations come out of Arab world shadow - The Times of India

 

[EjazR]

What ever the Asian country, its definitely not India as Globes has retracted its report. IAI has been blacklisted in India by AK Anotny on a corruption scandal in 2010 so it was unlikely to be India in the first place. The last big deal with IAI was the Barak missiles and was the biggest deal until this one.

IAI signs largest ever deal - Globes

Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) (TASE: ARSP.B1) has signed the second stage of a huge deal with an Asian country, which makes the deal the largest in the company's history - $1.6 billion.

IAI notified the TASE on Sunday about the first stage of the deal for the supply of a range of arms system for $1.1 billion to an Asian country. It did not disclose the name of the country or the systems to be supplied.

IAI will supply unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), state-of-the-art missiles, including sea-to-sea missiles, and sophisticated radar systems, including the Green Pine, made by IAI's Elta Systems subsidiary, which is part of the Arrow anti-ballistic missile system.

IAI will supply the systems over four years. The second $500 million deal was signed after IAI met the customer's demand for guarantees, and the procedures for their approval were completed.

The deal surpasses the $1.4 billion contract with India signed two years ago for the supply of Barak ship defense missiles and other defense systems.

A confidential client

At the request of the customer in the present deal, the details of the country have been kept confidential, and IAI and the defense establishment are not disclosing its identity. However, this is the first time that the country has signed a contract with IAI, a fact which itself indicates the complexity of the deal and the need for confidence building measures by the parties

Defense establishment sources involved in the deal said that IAI representatives recently held intensive negotiations with the unnamed country's team, after two years of talks. IAI CEO Yitzhak Nissan handled the critical stages of the negotiations.

In an earlier report about the deal, "Globes" incorrectly said that the customer was India.

-------------------

There is some speculation that the country is either Vietnam or South Korea as they would be first time clients.

 

[Bl[i]tZ]

^Thanks for clarifying!

 

[BelligerentPacifist]

Could it be China? Saudi?

 

[KS]

Excellent.

There is only one trajectory that this relationship should/would follow - Upward.

Could it be China? Saudi?

It's 'Nam. Confirmed by an insider.

 

[angeldemon_007]

What ever the Asian country, its definitely not India as Globes has retracted its report. IAI has been blacklisted in India by AK Anotny on a corruption scandal in 2010 so it was unlikely to be India in the first place. The last big deal with IAI was the Barak missiles and was the biggest deal until this one.

Well Israeli companies are way too important for India. Blacklisted or not, i think back door deals are still being signed with IAI, just like our intelligence agencies have signed deals secretly with IAI and other israeli companies in the past. Although i have to say it might a different country.

Could it be China? Saudi?

I doubt it, but it could be Singapore or Vietnam or S.Korea

 

[EjazR]

Well Israeli companies are way too important for India. Blacklisted or not, i think back door deals are still being signed with IAI, just like our intelligence agencies have signed deals secretly with IAI and other israeli companies in the past. Although i have to say it might a different country.


I doubt it, but it could be Singapore or Vietnam or S.Korea

The secret deals are the problem. There is no reason to hide military deals with Israel because this is not directed against any third party. Its only to protect India. So we should have no problems in doing this openly

Secret deals result in corruption and that is what we should avoid. What ever the blacklisting, the case should be resolved, people charged and companies fined; then move ahead. Deals should be transparent and open so corruption can be curbed.

The reason that these deals are done secretly for political reasons is hogwash and should not be accepted. No one will oppose this. IMO, its a myth propagated so that those involved in the deals can get their kickbacks. If the deals are secret, less people know about it and even fewer think about scrutunising the deal.

On the topic, I think KS is right, Vietnam is the new country IAI signed the deal with

 

[Kinetic]

This small country always amaze me! We have many things to cooperate. Their advancement in science ad technology above all human development is amazing.

Israeli business media Globes reported that Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) was signing its largest-ever defence deal with India, over $1.1 billion worth of missiles, anti-missile systems, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), intelligence and other systems.

Iron Dome.