Summary of "India and Israel: The Alliance That Can Transform The Twenty-First Century | Revital Moses"

Episode summary

This episode of Alon the Record examines the deepening India–Israel relationship ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel. It covers strategic, economic, technological, cultural and diplomatic dimensions of the partnership, historical background, current drivers and possible future trajectories toward the 2047–48 centennials.

Why Modi is visiting

Israel’s importance to India extends beyond population size: strategic, economic and technological cooperation make it a valuable partner.
Recent context: a reported nearly $9 billion Israeli arms deal positions Israel among India’s top weapons suppliers, reinforcing defense ties and prompting high-level engagement.

Historical and strategic foundations

Formal diplomatic relations were established in 1992.
The relationship deepened after the 1999 Kargil War, when Israel supplied intelligence, drones and munitions to India.
Shared security concerns — terrorism, regional instability and nuclear-armed neighbors — underpin a strong strategic alignment.

Areas of cooperation

Defense and counterterrorism: collaboration on intelligence sharing and advanced military technology.
High tech and AI: partnerships in AI and other high-tech sectors, with growing bilateral investment potential.
People-to-people links: diaspora connections, cultural exchange and talent flows (including the potential for Israeli firms to hire Indian tech talent).

Trade and grand strategy

Discussion of a proposed India–UAE–Saudi–Jordan–Israel–Europe corridor as an alternative or complement to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Potential benefits: transformative effects on trade and supply chains, reduced maritime risk (e.g., Houthi attacks on shipping).
Challenges: significant political and logistical obstacles to implementation.

Cultural diplomacy and soft power

India is interested in Israeli media formats (for example, Fauda adapted as Tanav); there is potential for film collaborations and increased tourism.
Food and cultural exchange are noted as influential soft-power tools.
The Bené Israel community: an ancient Jewish community on India’s west coast that serves as a symbolic bridge between the two countries.

Domestic politics and diplomatic balancing

India pursues a careful balancing act with Arab states because of historic economic ties and the large Indian workforce in the Gulf (remittances and political sensitivity).
This balancing explains why India sometimes refrains from full public alignment with Israel at multilateral fora.

Concerns about narratives and public opinion

The episode warns that anti-Israel narratives on Western university campuses and social media are influencing some younger Indians (millennials/Gen Z), potentially seeding hostility toward Israel.

Recommendations to counter misinformation: - Increase outreach in local Indian languages (Hindi and regional languages). - Promote visible Indian-origin figures in Israeli institutions. - Use culturally resonant messaging to reach younger audiences.

Outlook toward 2047–48 (centennials)

Expected developments: deeper people-to-people ties, stronger tech/AI collaboration, more bilateral investment and expanded cultural exchanges (including cinema).
The strategic partnership could grow substantially but will depend on regional politics and sustained policy commitment.