26 Feb 2026·Source: The Hindu

4 min

International RelationsEconomyPolity & GovernanceNEWS

Modi's Israel Visit: Balancing Ties Amid West Bank Tensions

Q: In a Mains question asking to 'critically examine' India's relationship with Israel, what points should I cover in 250 words?

A 250-word answer should cover: * Historical context: Briefly mention pre-1992 relations and the shift. * Key areas of cooperation: Highlight defense, trade, and technology. * Balancing act: Explain India's need to balance ties with Israel and the Arab world, including its stance on Palestine. * Economic impact: Mention trade figures and key exports/imports. * Challenges: Briefly discuss potential criticisms related to arms imports and foreign policy alignment. Key points: Historical context: Briefly mention pre-1992 relations and the shift.. Key areas of cooperation: Highlight defense, trade, and technology.. Balancing act: Explain India's need to balance ties with Israel and the Arab world, including its stance on Palestine.. Economic impact: Mention trade figures and key exports/imports.. Challenges: Briefly discuss potential criticisms related to arms imports and foreign policy alignment. Exam tip: Structure your answer with a clear introduction, body paragraphs addressing each point, and a balanced conclusion.

PM Modi visits Israel amid India's UN stance on West Bank issues.

Shortly after India aligned with over 100 countries at the UN in criticizing Israel's moves in the West Bank, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel to discuss bilateral ties and regional developments. The relationship between India and Israel has deepened significantly, especially in defense, trade, and technology. Bilateral trade peaked at $10.7 billion in 2022-23 but declined due to war-related disruptions. India has maintained a trade surplus with Israel. Refined products and diamonds are major exports, while diamonds, fertilizers, and electronics are key imports.

India is a major importer of Israeli arms, accounting for over 38% of Israel's arms exports between 2014 and 2024. There are also around 32,000 Indian workers in Israel.

This visit and the balancing act India is undertaking highlight the complexities of India's foreign policy, navigating its strategic partnerships while upholding its stance on international law and human rights. This is relevant for UPSC Mains GS Paper 2, focusing on India's bilateral relations and the impact of foreign policy on domestic interests.

Key Facts

India and Israel established full diplomatic relations in 1992.

Bilateral trade peaked at $10.7 billion in 2022-23.

India has maintained a trade surplus with Israel since 2014-15.

India accounted for over 38% of Israel's arms exports between 2014 and 2024.

There were around 32,000 Indian workers in Israel as of October 2024.

UPSC Exam Angles

GS Paper 2: Bilateral relations, foreign policy, impact on domestic interests

India's balancing act in the Middle East

Strategic implications of defense cooperation with Israel

In Simple Words

India is trying to maintain good relations with Israel while also disagreeing with some of their actions. It's like having a friend you value, but you don't always agree with everything they do. India wants to keep its trade and defense ties strong, but also wants to show it cares about international concerns.

India Angle

This affects India because we rely on Israel for certain technologies and defense equipment. At the same time, India has a large Muslim population and traditionally supports the Palestinian cause. Balancing these interests is important for India's image and stability.

For Instance

Think of it like your family buying groceries from a shopkeeper who sometimes overcharges. You still buy from them because they have unique items, but you also complain about the overcharging.

It matters because India's foreign policy affects our economy, security, and international standing. How India handles relationships like this shapes our role in the world.

Balancing relationships is key: India walks a tightrope, keeping friends close while voicing disagreements.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel to discuss bilateral ties and regional developments, shortly after India aligned with over 100 countries at the UN in criticizing Israel's moves in the West Bank. The relationship between India and Israel has deepened significantly, especially in defense, trade, and technology. Bilateral trade peaked at $10.7 billion in 2022-23 but declined due to war-related disruptions.

India has maintained a trade surplus with Israel. Refined products and diamonds are major exports, while diamonds, fertilizers, and electronics are key imports. India is a major importer of Israeli arms, accounting for over 38% of Israel's arms exports between 2014 and 2024.

There are also around 32,000 Indian workers in Israel.

Expert Analysis

Prime Minister Modi's visit to Israel, following India's UN vote criticizing Israeli actions in the West Bank, underscores the delicate balancing act India performs in its foreign policy. To understand this, several key concepts are crucial.

The Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States in 2020, normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the UAE and Bahrain. This reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, creating new opportunities for economic and strategic cooperation. India, while not directly involved, has had to navigate this evolving landscape, maintaining its traditional support for the Palestinian cause while strengthening ties with Israel and its new Arab partners. The fact that India still voted against Israel at the UN shows that the Abraham Accords have not fundamentally altered India's position on the Palestinian issue.

The concept of Non-Alignment 2.0 is also relevant. While India was a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) during the Cold War, its foreign policy has evolved to embrace strategic autonomy and multi-alignment. This means engaging with multiple partners based on shared interests, without being tied to any particular bloc. India's deepening ties with both Israel and Arab nations, despite their historical conflicts, exemplify this approach. India's criticism of Israel at the UN, while maintaining strong bilateral ties, demonstrates its commitment to its own independent foreign policy.

Finally, the defense partnership between India and Israel is a critical element. India imports over 38% of Israel's arms exports, making it a major customer. This relationship goes beyond mere arms sales, encompassing joint research and development, technology transfer, and co-production. This is crucial for India's defense modernization efforts and its pursuit of self-reliance in defense production. The continued strength of this defense partnership, even amidst diplomatic complexities, highlights its strategic importance for India.

For UPSC aspirants, understanding these concepts – the Abraham Accords, Non-Alignment 2.0, and the India-Israel defense partnership – is crucial for both Prelims and Mains. Questions can be framed on India's foreign policy objectives, its balancing act in the Middle East, and the strategic implications of its defense cooperation with Israel. Mains questions could explore the challenges and opportunities for India in the evolving geopolitical landscape of the region.

Visual Insights

India-Israel Trade Statistics

Key trade figures between India and Israel, highlighting the trade volume and India's export surplus.

Bilateral Trade (2022-23): $10.7 Billion
India's Arms Import from Israel (2014-2024): 38%
Indian Workers in Israel: 32,000

More Information

Background

India's relationship with Israel has evolved significantly since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992. Prior to this, India maintained a cautious approach due to its historical support for the Palestinian cause and its large Muslim population. However, the changing geopolitical landscape and shared strategic interests, particularly in counter-terrorism and defense, led to a gradual warming of ties. The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), of which India was a founding member, traditionally advocated for the rights of developing countries and opposed colonialism and imperialism. India's initial reluctance to fully embrace ties with Israel stemmed from its commitment to NAM principles and its solidarity with the Palestinian people. However, with the end of the Cold War and the rise of new security challenges, India began to reassess its foreign policy priorities. The growing defense cooperation between India and Israel has been a key driver of the relationship. Israel has emerged as a reliable supplier of advanced military technology to India, providing critical equipment and expertise in areas such as missile defense, surveillance, and cybersecurity. This partnership has been particularly valuable for India in addressing its security concerns in the region.

Latest Developments

In recent years, India and Israel have expanded their cooperation beyond defense to include areas such as agriculture, water management, and innovation. The two countries have launched joint initiatives to promote technological collaboration and knowledge sharing, particularly in the fields of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy. India's growing engagement with the Abraham Accords signatories, such as the UAE and Bahrain, has also created new opportunities for trilateral cooperation. These partnerships can leverage the strengths of each country to promote regional stability and economic development. For example, India, Israel, and the UAE are exploring joint projects in areas such as infrastructure, logistics, and renewable energy. Looking ahead, India and Israel are expected to further deepen their strategic partnership, with a focus on expanding cooperation in areas such as space exploration, healthcare, and education. The two countries are also likely to continue working together to address shared security challenges, such as terrorism and cyber threats.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does India balance its relationship with Israel, especially when it criticizes Israel's actions at the UN?

India navigates this by maintaining open communication channels with both Israel and Palestine. India's vote at the UN reflects its commitment to international law and established positions on the West Bank, while the bilateral visit underscores the strategic importance of the India-Israel relationship, particularly in defense, trade, and technology. It's a balancing act reflecting India's foreign policy of multi-alignment.

2. What specific trade figures related to India-Israel trade could UPSC ask about, and what's the most common trap?

UPSC might ask about the peak bilateral trade figure of $10.7 billion in 2022-23 or India's trade surplus with Israel since 2014-15. The most common trap is assuming that the trade relationship is always growing; the war-related disruptions caused a decline, so be careful about questions implying continuous growth.

Exam Tip

Remember the peak trade year (2022-23) and the fact that India maintains a trade surplus. Don't assume constant growth!

3. How does PM Modi's visit to Israel connect to the Abraham Accords, and what does this mean for India?

India's growing engagement with Abraham Accords signatories (like UAE and Bahrain) creates opportunities for trilateral cooperation. Modi's visit reinforces India's ability to maintain strong relationships with various Middle Eastern nations, including those normalizing relations with Israel. This strengthens India's diplomatic leverage and economic opportunities in the region.

4. What are the potential implications of India being a major importer of Israeli arms (38% of exports) for India's foreign policy?

This reliance could create a perception of alignment with Israel's security policies, potentially complicating relations with countries critical of Israel. However, it also provides India with access to advanced defense technology and strengthens strategic ties, which India can argue is vital for its national security interests.

5. In a Mains question asking to 'critically examine' India's relationship with Israel, what points should I cover in 250 words?

A 250-word answer should cover: * Historical context: Briefly mention pre-1992 relations and the shift. * Key areas of cooperation: Highlight defense, trade, and technology. * Balancing act: Explain India's need to balance ties with Israel and the Arab world, including its stance on Palestine. * Economic impact: Mention trade figures and key exports/imports. * Challenges: Briefly discuss potential criticisms related to arms imports and foreign policy alignment.

•Historical context: Briefly mention pre-1992 relations and the shift.
•Key areas of cooperation: Highlight defense, trade, and technology.
•Balancing act: Explain India's need to balance ties with Israel and the Arab world, including its stance on Palestine.
•Economic impact: Mention trade figures and key exports/imports.
•Challenges: Briefly discuss potential criticisms related to arms imports and foreign policy alignment.

Exam Tip

Structure your answer with a clear introduction, body paragraphs addressing each point, and a balanced conclusion.

6. How does India's relationship with Israel fit into the broader context of Non-Alignment 2.0, and is there a conflict?

Non-Alignment 2.0 emphasizes strategic autonomy and multi-alignment. India's strong relationship with Israel, including defense cooperation, might seem contradictory to traditional non-alignment. However, India argues it's pursuing its national interests by engaging with multiple partners, while still maintaining its independent foreign policy and historical support for the Palestinian cause.

Practice Questions (MCQs)

1. Consider the following statements regarding India-Israel bilateral trade: 1. Bilateral trade between India and Israel peaked at $10.7 billion in 2022-23. 2. India maintains a trade deficit with Israel. 3. Refined products and diamonds are major exports from India to Israel. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A.1 and 2 only
B.1 and 3 only
C.2 and 3 only
D.1, 2 and 3

Show Answer

Answer: B

Statement 1 is CORRECT: Bilateral trade between India and Israel peaked at $10.7 billion in 2022-23. Statement 2 is INCORRECT: India maintains a trade SURPLUS with Israel, not a deficit. Statement 3 is CORRECT: Refined products and diamonds are major exports from India to Israel.

2. Which of the following statements accurately reflects India's position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

A.India has consistently supported Israel's actions in the West Bank.
B.India has shifted its policy to fully support Israel, abandoning its support for Palestine.
C.India maintains a position of supporting a two-state solution, while also engaging with Israel.
D.India has completely disengaged from the region and does not have diplomatic relations with either Israel or Palestine.

Show Answer

Answer: C

India supports a two-state solution, advocating for a sovereign, independent, and viable Palestine living side-by-side with Israel. India also maintains diplomatic and economic relations with Israel, demonstrating a balanced approach.

3. Assertion (A): India's defense partnership with Israel has grown significantly in recent decades. Reason (R): Israel has been a reliable supplier of advanced military technology to India, particularly in areas where other countries have been reluctant to provide assistance. In the context of the above statements, which of the following is correct?

A.Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
B.Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
C.A is true, but R is false
D.A is false, but R is true

Show Answer

Answer: A

Both the assertion and the reason are correct. Israel has indeed been a reliable defense partner for India, providing advanced military technology that India needs. This has strengthened the defense ties between the two countries.

4. Which of the following statements is NOT correct regarding the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)?

A.NAM was formed during the Cold War to provide a platform for countries not aligned with either the US or the Soviet Union.
B.India was a founding member of NAM.
C.NAM has lost its relevance in the post-Cold War era.
D.NAM advocated for decolonization and the rights of developing countries.

Show Answer

Answer: C

While the global landscape has changed since the Cold War, NAM continues to be a relevant platform for developing countries to voice their concerns and promote their interests. It has not lost its relevance entirely.