recognition without relations 137between the two countries had taken place in the intervening years [that
is, since the early 1950s].”^173 This was true for most of the four de cades
since India’s recognition of Israel.
If one looks at the Israeli experience, its diplomatic initiatives proved
successful only in fi ve major areas, and India does not fi gure in any of
them. First, those countries with a sizeable Christian population and a
better understanding of the Judeo- Christian heritage were quick to rec-
ognize Israel and normalize relations. Countries from Eu rope and Latin
America fall into this category. Second, countries with a sizable Jewish
population and thus Jewish infl uence recognized Israel rather early. The
United States and the countries of Eastern Eu rope, including the Soviet
Union, could be cited as examples. Third, countries with a hostile or un-
friendly attitude toward the Arabs looked to Israel as a possible ally; non-
Arab countries in the Middle East such as Iran and Turkey are the notable
examples. Fourth, those seeking closer ties with the United States looked
to Israel and its supporters in the United States as potential allies. The at-
titude of Turkey toward Israel amply exhibits this calculation.^174 And fi -
nally, Israel’s technical- assistance program proved helpful for a number of
newly in de pen dent countries in Africa who were either apprehensive of
Western assistance or did not receive adequate attention in the West.
India came under a diff erent category. Its politico- economic situation
was relatively better than a number of newly in de pen dent countries of
that time. Thus the need for Israeli assistance was limited. To complicate
matters further, a sizeable domestic Muslim population brought India
closer to the Arab perception of the Middle East and its problems. Thus,
for a long time, nonrelations dominated India’s Israel policy.