Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Partly reflecting the Congress party's opposition to the Muslim League's 'two-
nation theory', India sought to dismiss the Zionist demands and, supported by
Iran and the then Yugoslavia, proposed a minority plan. While the seven-
member majority advocated partition of Palestine, the minority plan suggested a
federal Palestine with adequate internal autonomy for the Jewish population.
When the UN General Assembly endorsed the majority plan on 29 November
1947, India joined the Arab and Islamic countries in opposing partition of
Palestine.
5
Meanwhile, the establishment of Israel and its acceptance by the international
community compelled India to respond to new political realities of the Middle
East. After much deliberation, Israeli persuasion and domestic pressures
emanating from its pro-Arab legacy, on 18 September 1950, India granted
de
jure
recognition to the Jewish state.
6
Shortly afterwards, Israel opened a trade
office in Bombay (now Mumbai) which gradually transformed into a consular
mission and the first Israeli Consul assumed office in June 1953. Though
inclined to open a resident mission in Israel, citing financial constraints and
scarcity of diplomatic personnel, India postponed any moves toward Israel.
Non-relation
What started as a routine issue soon transformed into a controversial foreign
policy question. Nehru's assurances to Israel in early 1952 for normalization had
to face domestic opposition, especially from his senior cabinet colleague Abul
Kalam Azad.
7
Perceived opposition of the Indian Muslims aside, apprehensions
over the Arab position on the Kashmir question played a role in the consolidation
of pro-Arab policy.
8
Above all, Pakistani diplomatic efforts in the Middle East,
especially Pakistan's campaign for an Islamic bloc sounded alarm bells in New
Delhi.
Even though never officially admitted, India's Israel policy became a hostage
to India's rivalry with Pakistan for diplomatic influence in the Middle East. In
the pre-independent years, the Congress party adopted an unsympathetic position
toward the Zionists partly due to its rivalry with the Muslim League and after
1947 India's rivalry with Pakistan shaped its policy toward Israel.
Gradually a host of regional developments and international trends prevented
any meaningful interaction and understanding between India and Israel. The
absence of ties drew widespread criticisms in both India and abroad. The
emerging friendship between Nehru and Egyptian President Gamal Abdul
Nasser turned out to be a turning-point in India's attitude toward Israel. Nehru
saw the Egyptian leader as a symbol and leader of Arab nationalism and anti-
colonial struggle in the Middle East. Nasser's commitment to secularism and
socialism and his opposition to US-backed military alliances earned him Nehru's
appreciation and support. It was natural that the Israeli invasion of Sinai in 1956
