Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) shakes hands with Indian Foreign

Minister S.M. Krishna during their meeting in Jerusalem on January 10th, 2012.
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120131-VINEETH-001-SA-ENG
India-Israel defence ties: $10 billion and growing
By T.K. Vineeth for Khabar South Asia in New Delhi 31/01/12
120131-VINEETH-001-SA-
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S.M. Krishna strengthens defence ties in his first visit to
Israel, India's largest source for military imports.

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Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna's recent trip to Israel placed the two
nations' "strong and growing partnership," including defence ties, in
plain view, experts here said
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The visit, part of a Middle East trip by Krishna earlier this month, came
ahead of the 20th anniversary of full diplomatic relations established on

January 29th, 1992 -- between the two countries.

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20

"The visit has brought the developing Indo-Israel relationship into the open.
There is a strong and growing partnership between the two countries, but
it had been largely hidden from public view. The visit has gone a long
way to reversing this trend," Mark Sloman, director of The Israel
Project's India Program, told Khabar South Asia.
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,

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Defence is an important peg of India-Israel relations. "Both countries share a
constant threat from extremist terror, and defence and homeland security
concerns served as the underpinnings of the relationship when it first
began," Sloman said.

. "
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Israel is India's largest source for defence imports, at nearly $10 billion in the
last decade. Some recent Indian purchases include the Phalcon airborne
warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft, Barak missiles, and antimissile air defence systems.

, Phalcon
(AWACS) , Barak ,
.

India and Israel have a robust relationship in this area. India's

modernisation needs and Israel's expertise in niche technologies
such as surveillance and missile technology come in handy," S.
Samuel C. Rajiv, associate fellow at Institute for Defence Studies
& Analyses (IDSA), told Khabar South Asia.
.
, " ,
(IDSA) , .
According to media reports, more defence deals are in the works. "We can
expect more forward movement in this field, though it may not be
publicized," Rajiv said.
,
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"

The Indian minister spent two days in Israel meeting the nation's top
leadership -- President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
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A highlight of the visit was the landmark decision to open an
Israeli Consulate in Bangalore, India's IT hub. Agreements were
signed on extradition and transfer of sentenced persons, both of
which are important from a counterterrorism perspective.
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"We will have to work out a strategy as to how we address ourselves to the
scourge of international terrorism," Krishna told reporters in Jerusalem.

 , "

"

Israel is upbeat about the visit, the first by an Indian foreign minister since
Jaswant Singh in 2000.


"The visit was very good. It covered all areas of co-operation such as
counterterrorism, agriculture, political engagement, etc.," said David
Goldfarb, a spokesman for the Israeli embassy in New Delhi.

, ,
, , "

Goldfarb declined to comment on the defence deals, but said "Israel is a very
close friend of India, and the wellbeing of every Indian is very close to
our heart."

, , "
"

India, the only South Asian country with diplomatic ties to Israel, plays a
delicate diplomatic and domestic balancing game, given its large Muslim
population and its growing desire for defence co-operation with the
Jewish state.

"India wants an independent Palestine living alongside a secure Israel.

Successive Israeli governments have expressed the same sentiment,"
Sloman said.


, "
Not all voices applaud the relationship. "It is disappointing that Israel has
taken such an obdurate position on a Palestinian settlement," said
political commentator and former editor of The Hindustan Times B.G.
Verghese.
"

"

According to Rajiv, however, India's Middle East policy is driven by

its national interests. "India's partnership with Israel is not at the
expense of India's traditional policy of diplomatic and economic
support to the Palestinians," he told Khabar South Asia.

,
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