What Happened
- PM Narendra Modi visited Tel Aviv, Israel — his second visit to the country and the second-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Israel (the first was Modi's own historic 2017 visit).
- The visit involved pledges to boost bilateral defence cooperation and technology sharing, with India and Israel signing an MoU to deepen defence industrial collaboration.
- Bilateral trade reached $3.75 billion in 2024–25 (excluding defence); Israel is India's second-largest arms supplier after Russia, with India accounting for approximately 34% of Israel's defence exports.
- PM Modi met Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu; discussions covered the Gaza conflict, regional security, and bilateral cooperation in defence, technology, water management, and agriculture.
- The visit came amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza and heightened regional tensions involving Iran.
Static Topic Bridges
India-Israel Diplomatic Relations: Historical Evolution
India's relationship with Israel has undergone a profound transformation over seven decades. In 1947, India voted against the UN Partition Plan for Palestine (UN Resolution 181), reflecting the Nehruvian commitment to anti-imperialism and solidarity with the Arab world. India recognised Israeli sovereignty in 1950 but refused to establish full diplomatic relations for over four decades, maintaining a policy of support for Palestinian self-determination and non-alignment with Israeli positions. This changed fundamentally on January 29, 1992, when India under PM Narasimha Rao formally established full diplomatic relations with Israel, opening embassies in both capitals. The decision was enabled partly by the Oslo Peace Process context, in which PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat himself had indicated he would not oppose India's decision. The post-1992 relationship evolved steadily, acquiring strategic depth under PM Modi from 2014 onwards.
- 1947: India voted against the UN Partition Plan for Palestine.
- 1950: India recognised Israeli sovereignty; Israel opened a consulate in Bombay in 1953.
- January 29, 1992: Full diplomatic relations established under PM Narasimha Rao.
- 1971 War: Israel covertly supplied India with arms and ammunition — the first strategic cooperation.
- 1999 Kargil War: Israel supplied India with laser-guided bombs and UAVs at critical juncture.
- 2017: PM Modi's historic first visit to Israel — first ever by an Indian PM; Israel did not include a visit to Palestine/Ramallah (break with precedent).
- 2026: Second Modi visit to Tel Aviv.
Connection to this news: The 2026 Modi visit builds on the strategic partnership architecture established since 1992 and deepened since 2014, with defence cooperation as the central pillar.
India-Israel Defence Cooperation
Defence cooperation is the most substantive dimension of the India-Israel bilateral relationship. As of 2022, India was Israel's single largest arms export customer, accounting for approximately 34% of Israel's total defence exports between 2020 and 2024. Key systems procured from Israel include the Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), Heron and Searcher UAVs/drones, Barak surface-to-air missiles, Spike anti-tank guided missiles, the Harop loitering munition (kamikaze drone), and the joint development of the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM/Barak-8) system. Since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, India's defence companies have supplied arms and ammunition to Israel during the Gaza conflict — even as India called for humanitarian ceasefires in UN forums. The India-Israel Industrial R&D and Innovation Fund (I4F), established in 2017 for 2017–2021 and renewed for 2023–2027, funds joint research and technology development.
- Israel = India's 2nd largest arms supplier (after Russia); India = Israel's largest arms customer.
- India's share of Israeli defence exports: ~34% (2020–2024).
- Israel defence exports to India: ~$880 million (2023), ~$1.1 billion (2024), ~$1.5 billion+ (2025).
- Key systems: Phalcon AWACS, Heron UAVs, Barak-8/MRSAM (joint development), Harop drones, Spike missiles.
- MRSAM (Barak-8): Joint development by DRDO (India) and IAI (Israel); deployed by Indian Army, Navy, Air Force.
- I4F (2023–2027): Joint R&D fund for civilian and defence technology.
- October 2023: India condemned Hamas attacks and supplied Israel with defence materiel.
Connection to this news: PM Modi's visit and the defence MoU signed signal India's intention to deepen the strategic partnership despite the politically sensitive backdrop of the Gaza conflict.
India's Middle East Policy and the "Act West" Doctrine
India's Middle East policy has evolved from a primarily reactive, Arab-solidarity-based stance to a proactive multi-alignment approach that engages simultaneously with Israel, Arab Gulf states, Iran, and the Palestinian Authority. This shift is driven by: energy security (Middle East supplies ~60% of India's oil imports); the Indian diaspora (~9 million Indians in Gulf countries, remittances ~$50 billion/year); counter-terrorism cooperation; and trade diversification. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), announced at G20 New Delhi (September 2023), envisions a trade and transport corridor linking India through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel to Europe — positioning India-Israel cooperation as a node in a larger geopolitical architecture. India's "Act West" policy (articulated from 2014) complements "Act East" by deepening engagement across the Middle East and West Asia.
- IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor): Announced at G20 New Delhi (September 2023); links India to Europe via Middle East ports and rail.
- I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA): Quadrilateral grouping on food security, clean energy, infrastructure — first summit July 2022.
- Indian diaspora in Gulf: ~9 million; remittances ~$50 billion/year — largest source of remittances to India.
- India's oil imports: ~60% from Middle East; key suppliers: Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE.
- India's vote on Gaza: India has called for humanitarian ceasefires; supported UNGA resolutions on humanitarian corridors; maintained overall balanced position.
- Palestine: India continues to support a two-state solution; maintains embassy in Ramallah (Palestine); India was among the first to recognise the State of Palestine (1988).
Connection to this news: The Modi-Netanyahu summit advances India's multi-alignment strategy in the Middle East — simultaneously deepening Israel ties while maintaining relations with Arab states, Iran, and Palestinian leadership.
Key Facts & Data
- January 29, 1992: Full India-Israel diplomatic relations established under PM Narasimha Rao.
- 2017: PM Modi's first visit to Israel — first-ever by an Indian PM.
- $3.75 billion: Bilateral trade (2024–25, excluding defence).
- ~34%: India's share of Israeli defence exports (2020–2024).
- ~$1.1 billion (2024): Israeli defence exports to India; growing to $1.5 billion+ (2025 estimate).
- India = Israel's largest single arms customer; Israel = India's 2nd largest arms supplier (after Russia).
- MRSAM/Barak-8: Joint India-DRDO and Israel-IAI developed surface-to-air missile; deployed across Indian armed forces.
- IMEC: India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor; announced G20 New Delhi, September 2023; involves Israel as a transit node.
- I2U2: India-Israel-UAE-USA economic grouping; first summit July 2022.