domestic politics 151money are to be dispatched to Jeddah, a centre of war activities of Arabs,
by the end of this month.”^35 Around the same time, the nizam of the
princely state of Hyderabad in southern India “has been collecting sub-
scription for lending 14,000,000 [pounds] sterling to Arabs to buy arms
to help them in attaining their objectives in Palestine.”^36
The following month, speaking in the Constituent Assembly, Banarsi
Prasad Jhunjhunwala referred to a cable that was sent by the Jama’at- ul-
ulemai- Hind to U.S. President Truman and Vice Chairman of the Soviet
Council of Ministers Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov. In this cable, the
Jama’at conveyed the resentment of Indian Muslims toward their recogni-
tion of the Jewish state.^37 A fortnight later, Begum Aizaz Rasul, the only
female Muslim member of the Constituent Assembly of India, raised the
following question: “Will the Hon’ble Prime Minister keep in mind the
fact that there are a large number of people living in the Indian Dominion
whose wishes and sentiments in this regard should be kept in view re-
garding the recognition of the State of Israel and they are defi nitely op-
posed to it?”^38 While Nehru did not directly answer this query, the mes-
sage was loud and clear. A “large number of people,” namely, the Muslim
population, was not in favor of India’s recognition of Israel. S. Gopal high-
lights the domestic factor when he observes that the “weight carried by
Muslim opinion in India,” inter alia, “strengthened [Nehru’s] inclination
to support the Arabs.”^39 Elsewhere he maintains that Nehru “did not im-
mediately follow [recognition] with the establishment of a legation in Tel
Aviv, perhaps mainly because of Muslim sentiment within India.”^40
However, many Indian leaders, including Nehru, were forthcoming in
their interaction with Israeli offi cials. Analysis of Israeli documents show
that on numerous occasions they referred to the feelings of India’s Mus-
lims toward Israel and had candidly linked this to delays in recognition
and normalization. While visiting the United States in November 1949,
Nehru met Israel’s ambassador in Washington, Eliahu Elath. At this
meeting, also attended by U.S. Congressman Celler, the prime minister
was candid and forthright. According to the summary of the meeting
prepared by Elath, Nehru referred to the impact of the “painful” partition
upon Indian Muslims. For Nehru, Pakistan turning “theocratic” had se-
riously hampered the “assimilation” of Indian Muslims. Given the trauma
of partition, his government would have to tread with caution on the is-
sue of the recognition of Israel. He reminded the Israeli diplomat that
over the years the question of Palestine had a deep impact upon the Indian
Muslims and had been “a constant source of agitation.” Therefore, Nehru