SESSION-1 INDIA-ISRAEL E CONNECT

PCRI Celebrates the 30th Anniversary of India-Israel Diplomatic Relations.

PCRI conducted “India-Israel E-Connect: Exploring Partnership, Possibilities & Potential” saw success

Delhi: On the advent of the 30th anniversary of the India-Israel Diplomatic Ties, PCRI conducted “India-Israel E-Connect: Exploring Partnership, Possibilities & Potential”. The event was graced by the presence of H.E. Rony Yedidia-Clein, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Israel, New Delhi as the speaker and Honorable Ambassador Ashok Sajjanhar, IFS (Retd.), Former Ambassador of India to Kazakhstan, Latvia & Sweden, as the chairperson of the first session. The event was equally graceful with the arrival of Lt. Gen. Vinod Bhatia, PVSM, AVSM, SM, Former DGMO, Indian Army and Dr. Bharat, Defence Expert as speakers and Maj. Gen. Rajan Kochhar, VSM, Former MGAOC, Central Command, Indian Army, as the chairperson of the second session.

Summary:

H.E.Mrs.Yedidia-Clein started her speech by acknowledging the present ties saying that both the countries share excellent relations and the scope of the relations between the two nations span from issues like defence and security to civilian ones like agriculture, technology, science and innovation. Visits like that of Dr. S. Jaishankar, Foreign Minister of India at the invitation of the Foreign Minister of Israel, H. E. Mr. Yair Lapid brought the relations of both the countries even closer. This was also seen by the interaction between the Prime Ministers of India and Israel in the COP26 in Glasgow. She acknowledged that though the West Asia Quad does not have a structure or a proper name as of now, Israel believes it to be extremely important for deepening the coordination. She noted the fact that India and Israel are working on the water initiative, as a part of a strategic partnership. The importance of the issue of water has been so much that there exists a diplomat for water issues exclusively. The countries are also working with each other in the sector of agriculture where Israel has been able to create the 30th Center of Excellence in the sector of agriculture and plan to have 12 more centers of excellence in the future to come.

Mrs. Yedidia-Clein addressed the recent drone attacks by Yemen’s Houthi faction and condemned the terrorists and their activities, while paying condolences to the families of the affected people due to the drone attacks. She condemned Iran of using such tactics, while utilizing proxies in West Asia.

Chairman of PCRI: Gave an introduction of PCRI, detailing the personnel and the goals of PCRI.

This was followed by an introduction to India-Israel ties in the present day.

The session begins with an introduction by the Ambassador who wished PCRI success many more achievements in the future.

The Ambassador gave a detailed account of diplomatic ties from PM Modi’s first visit to Israel and the collaboration between the two countries, specifically Agriculture and Water security. He detailed that the underpinning of ties was defence, agriculture and water. He then introduced the honoured guest DCM Mrs Rony Yedidia-Clen.

DCM Yedidia Clen gave some history of India-Israel ties stretching back from history.

The relationship between the two countries has grown in both security and civilian matters, especially health in the pandemic.Water is a significant part of the relationship.

Madame DCM expressed hope for the future of the relationship between the countries.

India-Israel has a diplomat devoted full-time to the matter of water with Israel technology being transported to Indian governments at all levels. On agriculture, Israel will be inaugurating the centres of excellence and will be starting more such centres in due time.

The ambassador sir took it from there and detailed that India and Israel’s collaboration was booming even before the establishment of diplomatic ties. He gave a historic basis for the movement of jews in India. Ambassador sir, posed several questions to Madame DCM from tourism to high-level diplomatic relations.

Madame DCM detailed that there are over 4 billion dollars in trade between India and Israel not including defence (I billion dollars). Israel sees India as a major partner in the Indo pacific region, in trade defence and tourism. Israel is looking more towards the East and therefore India is a major partner in this region.

Audience Questions:

My question is how will India Israel relations grow in the cold war 2.0 and especially Iranian threats like the recent attack on Abu Dhabi oil?

“So first of all, thank you for this question as it allows me to convey my condolences and the condolences of the nation of Isreal. We condemn any act of terrorism. This attack was on an ally. We see this attack as an attack on us, I think that we should be aware that Iran is utilizing its proxies around the area in North Lebanon where Hezbollah is very active and in the South where Hamas is very active. Every country should be aware of Iran’s goals in the economy and we need to be aware of that. The Persian people have been taken over by a government that does not fully represent them. The relationship with the government is going in directions where it should not. We should be wary of their aspirations in terms of nuclear weaponry. “

Collaboration and Business relations is to bring a smile to everybody in this world and promote a violence-free society all around. How we can proceed with this in this scenario. How can Spirituality from INDIA in ISRAEL play a role especially in NGOs like SRI SRI RAVISHANKAR Art of Living?

A very big part of Isreal’s tourism is spirituality in the Ashrams. Yoga is very popular in Israel.

Good Morning Maam. Could we have your views on Israel setting up defence industries in India in the form of a strategic partnership or joint venture as recently our defence corridors have come up? Possibilities for the manufacture of UAV could be a starting point

India-Israel has a very booming defence collaboration. They come under the make in India slogan and it is a point of pride that Israeli technology come under the Make in India slogan.

As we all know, "Education breeds confidence. Confirmed breeds hope which in turn breeds peace." Hence, education plays a sacrosanct role in strengthening the ties between India and Israel. Can we anticipate any future collaborations exclusively for the development of education, ma'am?

In terms of education, we have a mobile bus in new Delhi and NCR with a computer classroom inside hoping to help children with STEM fields. Israeli technology is being shipped for educational purposes and this is being negotiated presently. Isreal is trying to fund scholarships for higher education from India.

Currently meeting with India, US, UAE and Israel is considered QUAD of the West is this organisation came into existence if it has come is it a collective security dialogue or is it on economic, scientific and research purpose

It is more scientific. There was an inaugural meeting and another meeting to decide how to go forward. There is another meeting tentatively scheduled next month in Dubai. We are finding new opportunities to deepen these ties and it is still the early days of the Western QUAD.

Could India and Israel jointly launch a cultural institution similar to Alliance Francaise or Goethe Zentrum? Indians learning Hebrew and Israeli's accessing several other regional languages could improve our peoples' understanding of each other. What are your thoughts?

I don’t see that happening. Israel has an Indian cultural centre and we have a very active cultural representative in India. We don’t see a formalized Alliance Francaise type of centre.

Secondly, will it be possible for Israel to ease visa processes for Indians, vis-à-vis short-term travel? This could be on similar lines as Georgia, and/or Russia.

This would deepen people to people ties. We are eager to have Indians travel to Israel.

Concluding remarks:

DCM: We have a very positive relationship with India. I am very happy to be part of this and part of this 30 years as I mentioned that the relations stretch back before that. I look forward to this with various cultural events various high-level diplomatic talks.

Ambassador air: 30 years does not describe our relationship adequately. When we speak of the parades synagogue it is next to the Hindu temple which shows how close the relationship is. In 1968 Indira Gandhi participated in the celebrations of the synagogue. Mr Venkaiah Naidu participated in the 450th ceremony between the two peoples.

Vote of Thanks: Major Gen Rajan Kochar: for a wonderful session today on Indo Isreal relations. My thanks to DCM Rony for a wonderful interaction in the fields of agriculture, water, defence and student and cultural relations. I am sure that all of us in the audience have benefitted from your proactiveness, your friendliness and we need to carry forward this dialogue with Israel to further heights. I would like to thank Ambassador sir for this knowledge and international relations is impeccable. The entire advisory board and the entire technical team and I could see the dedication and determination of them all. Thank you all Jai Hind!