What Happened
- A magazine focused on India-Israel relations titled "Namaste Shalom" has been relaunched by former BJP Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Vijay, originally a 2018 publication that could not sustain beyond its first few editions.
- The relaunch issue covers the bilateral relationship across multiple dimensions: the diplomatic rapport between the two countries' leadership, Hindu-Jewish cultural connections, Israeli defence cooperation with India during the 1999 Kargil War, and cultural exchanges including food and diaspora communities.
- The editorial advisory board includes BJP leaders Poonam Mahajan and Rajeev Chandrashekhar; the relaunch was timed to coincide with renewed focus on the bilateral relationship following PM Modi's February 2026 visit to Israel.
- The magazine explores the history of Bene Israeli Jews of Maharashtra, the contrast between India's current and historical Israel policy, and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Static Topic Bridges
India-Israel Bilateral Relations: From Estrangement to Strategic Partnership
India recognised Israel's sovereignty in 1950, making it one of the first Asian countries to do so. However, full diplomatic relations were established only on January 29, 1992, when India opened an embassy in Tel Aviv and Israel opened one in New Delhi. The four-decade delay was driven by India's non-aligned foreign policy, solidarity with Arab states (who opposed Israel), and domestic political calculations regarding the Muslim vote and Gulf energy dependence. Since 1992, the relationship has grown across defence, agriculture, water technology, and counter-terrorism cooperation, upgraded to a "Special Strategic Partnership" during PM Modi's 2017 visit — the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister to Israel.
- India-Israel full diplomatic relations established: January 29, 1992.
- PM Modi's 2017 visit: first by an Indian PM to Israel, described as transformative — India signed 16 bilateral agreements.
- Bilateral trade: grew from $200 million (1992) to over $7 billion (2022–23).
- India is Israel's largest trading partner in Asia and among its top five globally.
- The two countries upgraded ties to "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" in 2024.
- India has historically maintained a "hyphenated" Israel-Palestine policy; post-2014, India began engaging Israel more openly while maintaining a separate track with Palestine.
Connection to this news: The "Namaste Shalom" relaunch reflects the broader cultural and civil society dimension of a relationship that has grown from cautious diplomatic normalisation in 1992 to active strategic partnership — a shift that warrants public diplomacy and cultural outreach.
The Bene Israeli Jews of India: A Unique Diaspora Community
India hosts several ancient Jewish communities, the most significant being the Bene Israel of Maharashtra, the Cochini Jews (Kerala), and the Baghdadi Jews (Mumbai and Kolkata). The Bene Israel are believed to have arrived on the Konkan coast of Maharashtra over 2,000 years ago, possibly from ancient Israel following a shipwreck. They maintained Jewish religious practices while integrating deeply into Maharashtrian culture, adopting Marathi as their language and using oil-pressing (Shabbat observance of avoiding food preparation) as a distinguishing custom. The Bene Israel community migrated to Israel in large numbers after Israeli statehood in 1948, though a significant community remains in Pune and Mumbai.
- Bene Israel: Maharashtra's ancient Jewish community; believed to have arrived ~2,000 years ago on the Konkan coast.
- They were integrated into the Marathi-speaking community while maintaining Jewish religious practices including Shabbat observance, circumcision, and dietary laws.
- The community was formally recognised as Jews by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel in 1964 following a period of doubt.
- Approximately 50,000–60,000 Bene Israel migrated to Israel post-1948; about 5,000 remain in India, primarily in Mumbai and Pune.
- Cochini Jews (Cochin/Kerala): another ancient community, believed to have arrived ~2,500 years ago; most have emigrated to Israel.
- India's treatment of Jewish communities through history — marked by an absence of antisemitism — is frequently cited as a foundation for the bilateral cultural relationship.
Connection to this news: "Namaste Shalom" magazine's coverage of Bene Israeli history and Hindu-Jewish cultural parallels draws on this deep historical connection to frame the bilateral relationship not merely as a strategic convenience but as rooted in genuine cultural affinity and shared civilisational values.
India's Israel Policy: Strategic Autonomy and the Palestine Question
India's evolving Israel policy represents one of the most visible examples of strategic autonomy in practice: maintaining strong bilateral ties with Israel while simultaneously expressing support for Palestinian statehood at the United Nations and in multilateral forums. India voted in favour of UNGA Resolution ES-10/21 (2023) calling for "humanitarian truce" in Gaza — signalling continued solidarity with Palestine — even as defence and intelligence cooperation with Israel deepens. This two-track approach has been characterised as "de-hyphenation": treating the India-Israel bilateral relationship and the India-Palestine bilateral relationship as independent tracks rather than a single hyphenated position.
- India's historical position: supported Palestinian statehood since the PLO's founding; India was one of the first non-Arab states to recognise Palestine (1988).
- Post-2014 "de-hyphenation": India-Israel defence ties expanded (India is Israel's largest arms customer globally for several years), while India maintained UN votes on Palestine.
- India imports significant defence equipment from Israel: drone systems (Heron, Searcher), missiles (Barak, Spyder), and electronic warfare systems.
- India voted for UNGA Resolution calling for humanitarian truce in Gaza (October 2023, November 2023).
- India abstained on UN Human Rights Council resolutions specifically condemning Israel, reflecting the balancing act between strategic partnership and multilateral positions.
Connection to this news: The "Namaste Shalom" relaunch — with its explicit framing of Hindu-Jewish cultural parallels and Modi-Netanyahu diplomatic rapport — reflects civil society and political dimensions of a bilateral relationship that operates at the intersection of deep strategic interests, historical diaspora ties, and carefully calibrated multilateral positioning.
Key Facts & Data
- India recognised Israel's sovereignty: 1950
- India-Israel full diplomatic relations established: January 29, 1992
- PM Modi's Israel visit: 2017 — first by any Indian PM; 16 agreements signed
- Bilateral trade: $200 million (1992) → $7+ billion (2022–23)
- Namaste Shalom first launched: 2018; relaunched March 2026 by Tarun Vijay (former BJP RS MP)
- Bene Israel: Maharashtra's ancient Jewish community, believed present in India for ~2,000 years; ~5,000 remain in India today
- India voted for UNGA humanitarian truce resolution on Gaza: October–November 2023
- India abstained on UNHRC resolutions specifically condemning Israeli military actions
- India: Israel's largest arms customer for several years (drones, missiles, EW systems)