External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has raised questions about India’s diplomatic relations with Israel, specifically the absence of an Indian ambassador and embassy in the country until 1992. This revelation comes amid India’s recognition of Israel as an independent state in 1950.
Speaking at the Nationalist Thinkers- Hyderabad Chapter forum, Jaishankar questioned why India chose not to establish an embassy and ambassador in Israel for four decades, despite the country’s independence in 1948. He suggested that religious factors may have influenced this decision and highlighted the importance of separating faith from foreign policy considerations.
“From 1948 to 1992, we choose not to have an Ambassador and an Embassy in Israel. Why? From 1992, we had an Embassy; from 1992 to 2017, when PM Modi went to Israel, no PM of India ever went to Israel,” Jaishankar stated, according to ANI.
“Think about it, and then tell me that faith has no influence on our policy. What is it? Is it not vote bank?” he added.
Full diplomatic relations between India and Israel were established on January 29, 1992. Prior to that, India’s recognition of Israel in 1950 was only de facto and without formal diplomatic ties.
Jaishankar’s comments have sparked discussions about the evolution of India’s foreign policy towards Israel and the role of domestic political considerations in shaping diplomatic decisions.
