2 introductionso despite India being free of any forms of anti- Semitism and remaining
friendly toward the Jewish people since their fi rst known arrival in India,
following the destruction of the Second Temple in a.d. 70. Despite being
hospitable to the Jews, India’s policy toward Israel was long manifested
by nonrelations rather than by cordial ties. The prolonged absence of dip-
lomatic ties with Israel is an aberration in India’s overall attitude toward
the Jewish people.
For de cades, Israel remained the most controversial and deeply divisive
issue in India’s foreign policy. The Indian attitude toward Israel was in
sharp contrast to its policies regarding China and Pakistan. Prolonged
diff erences, tensions, and even armed confl icts with these countries did
not prevent New Delhi from maintaining normal diplomatic ties with
both countries. Israel, with whom it never had any bilateral dispute, re-
mained an outcast. The prolonged nonrelation was justifi ed by moral self-
righteousness, and critical issues such as domestic infl uences rarely re-
ceived adequate attention. The tremendous progress in bilateral relations
since 1992 should be seen against the backdrop of protracted Indian reluc-
tance to come to terms with Jewish history and nationalist aspirations.
Regarding India’s foreign policy, Israel occupies a unique, controver-
sial, and unparalleled position. Until full diplomatic relations were es-
tablished in January 1992, Israel did not fi t into any pattern or model
that could explain New Delhi’s policy toward the world outside its bor-
ders. No other issue was as contentious and acrimonious as the absence
of formal Indian ties with Israel. It lacked domestic consensus, exposed
a hypocritical aspect of India’s foreign policy, and dented the moral cre-
dentials of India’s venerated leaders. For nearly four de cades, it was an
aberration and, at times, an embarrassment for the mandarins of India’s
policy.
Unrequited love. This term aptly explains the Indian responses to pro-
longed Israeli overtures. Since the founding of the Jewish state, India re-
acted and responded, often negatively, to various Israeli eff orts toward
recognition and normalization. India was active when violence erupted
in the Middle East and did not accommodate Israel’s concerns and fears.
While Israel eagerly sought close ties, Nehru’s India was reluctant and
coy. For over four de cades, it was India that decided, shaped, and con-
trolled the bilateral developments. In the absence of diplomatic ties be-
tween 1948 and 1992, even the term “relations” may not be appropriate.
During this phase, nonrelations remained the hallmark of India’s Israel
policy. It was only after Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao’s decision in