228 prelude to normalizationThe question of diplomatic relations and the diffi culties facing Israelis in
securing Indian visas fi gured in the hour- long discussion.^9
The mood in Israel was upbeat, and a possible diplomatic breakthrough
with India became a po liti cal battle between Prime Minister Yitzhak
Shamir and Foreign Minister Peres, the rival leaders of the National Unity
Government. Hours after Gandhi met Solarz and his friends, the Israeli
media quoted Peres as saying that the upgrading “was supposed to hap-
pen a week ago or something like that. Take another two weeks. History
can wait for another two weeks.” At the same time he cautioned by saying
that “it will be a limited rise. By the way, we are not talking about a sub-
stantial rise.” Interestingly, when this news was leaked, Gandhi was still
in the United States, and the Indian foreign offi ce did not know much
about the meeting and its contents. There were no dramatic announce-
ments, as some had wished. But before long, Amos Radian, the Israeli
vice- consul in Bombay, was elevated to the pre- 1982 position of consul. In
early 1989, he was succeeded by Giora Becher, who became the fi rst
Israeli to be sent to Bombay as consul since 1982. Indian offi cials main-
tained that Gandhi’s New York encounter and this elevation were “a pure
coincidence.” In the words of one offi cial: “The decision was taken much
earlier. The meeting with Jewish leaders in New York was a fait accompli
and we could hardly say no.”^10
In January 1989, India hosted two American groups that were work-
ing toward ending Israel’s diplomatic isolation. A three- member ADL
delegation and Congressman Solarz, who visited New Delhi, had a com-
mon agenda: normalization. While the ADL mission did not meet Prime
Minister Gandhi, it met Foreign Minister Narasimha Rao and the minis-
try’s joint secretary, P. K. Singh.^11 Two members of the ADL delegation,
Burton S. Levins and Abraham Foxman, were signatories to the 1987
ADL report that was highly critical of India’s visa policy. Upon returning
to the United States, the third member, Jesse N. Hordes, concluded that
the “basic decision to change direction had already been made.” At the
same time he warned: “anything short of full diplomatic relations within
a reasonably limited timeframe will constitute a great disappointment for
Israel’s friends.”^12 Shortly after the visit, the government of India in-
structed the state- government authorities in Maharashtra to invite the
Israeli consul to all offi cial functions. In the past, he was pointedly ex-
cluded from such occasions, which was a major embarrassment for Is-
rael. The question of normalization fi gured prominently in the talks be-
tween Indian leaders and Solarz. Foreign Minister Narasimha Rao took