India’s De-hyphenated Foreign Policy Towards Israel and Palestine

The word de-hyphenated foreign policy or diplomacy is used for an independent relation with or policy towards a nation irrespective of if such policy may offend another country or state.

India’s Foreign Policy towards Israel and Palestine

India’s foreign policy towards Israel and Palestine has been traditionally a hyphenated foreign policy. India was officially against creation of Israel (on religious lines) and India had voted against partitioning of Palestine Plan of 1947. India had also voted against Israel’s admission to United States in 1949. Also being a part of the NAM, India heisted to establish full fledged relations with Israel. Thus, any state visit or policy of India towards Israel was hyphenated as Israel-Palestine visit or policy. In 2017, in an unprecedented move, India’s PM Modi visited only Israel and not Palestine. Then, the recent visit of Prime Minister to Palestine, Oman and the UAE is again a continuation of similar policy. This departure from earlier policy and endorsing an independent policy towards these two rivals is called the de-hyphenation in India’s foreign policy.

Key Features of Dehyphenated Policy

The features of this policy Include:

• India First i.e. the prime factor of the Indian foreign policy would be upholding the interests of the country.
• Realism rather idealism as a prime mover of Indian policy to focus on substantial outcomes rather than mere symbolism.
• Commitment towards historic commitment that has stood across time and governments.
• A blend of realism on the base of idealism to ensure India first strategy.
• Ensuring safety, well being of the large Indian Diaspora in the Middle East region.
• A key component of look west policy to strengthen the relationship with middle-east.

Prospects of Dehyphenated Policy

The prospects of the dehyphenated policy towards Israel / Palestine are as follows:

• Greater cooperation with Israel to achieve synergy in the fields of agriculture, Science and tech, defence production and Tourism
• Ensuring that the Palestine issue doesn’t become a tool for religious fundamentalism and propaganda.
• Re-assuring the vast Muslim population about India’s commitment to cause of Palestine.
• Complimenting India’s role as a net security provider in the Arabian Sea region.
• Reiteration of the diplomatic sovereignty and independence in dealing with global issues.
• Balancing game to ensure India develops a close and strong relationship with Gulf and Middle East without getting tangled in politics of the region.
• Developing of consensus on convention against terrorism. Also stopping of differentiation as good and bad terrorism.

Thus, the de-hyphenated policy towards Israel and Palestine links relations with Israel and Palestine directly with Indian interests.