international factors 171Islamic countries have played a very signifi cant role in the development
and consolidation of solidarity among its member states.
Besides anti- imperialism, India’s policy toward Israel was also shaped
by the growing politico- strategic importance of the Arab world. The Arab
factor is one of the very few determinants whose infl uence can be felt
throughout the years. Since the days of the Khilafat struggle and until
after the normalization of relations in 1992, the Arab factor permeated
Indian thinking and calculations vis-à- vis Israel. Egypt had long domi-
nated Indian thinking. As early as 1949, New Delhi declared that “the
pre- eminent position of Egypt in the Arab world makes our relations
with that country of par tic u lar importance.”^28 Commenting on Cairo’s
importance, Onkar Marwah observes that due to “its status in the Arab
world— and also for its geostrategic location— Egypt was an obvious
choice for Indian attention, especially at a time when several Arab coun-
tries were being persuaded to enter into military alliance by the West.
Israel could not be expected to play a role as signifi cant as Egypt’s in this
sequence of international politics.”^29
Egypt’s importance was more acutely felt during Nasser’s time. Begin-
ning with their fi rst meeting in Cairo in 1953, the Nehru- Nasser friend-
ship blossomed into a unique relationship, and each had a great infl uence
upon the other.^30 According to Mohamed Hassanein Heikal, between
February 1953 and July 1955 alone they met as many as eight times.^31 If
Cairo provided “a con ve nient refueling stop” during Nehru’s voyages to
Eu rope, Nasser off ered po liti cal support to Nehru.^32 Their convergence,
fi rst witnessed at the Bandung Conference, soon transformed into closer
relations between the two countries, which were largely sustained until
Nasser’s death in 1970. India’s unwavering support for Egypt during the
Suez crisis and the June war was part of this trend. While the former was
never challenged, unqualifi ed support for Egypt during the June 1967 war
drew bitter domestic criticism. The opposition castigated the INC- led gov-
ernment for its imbalance but could not bring about any changes in the
pro- Egyptian policy.
Moreover, the strategic importance of the Suez Canal also compelled
India to support Egypt. Justifying Egyptian nationalization of the canal,
Menon remarked:
I knew well that in no circumstances could any Arab could do other
than [what] Nasser was doing... neither he nor anyone else could get
the population to agree to the idea of ships going through the Suez