Support for Israel

Submitted by Vijay Dandapani (United States), Sep 4, 2003 at 15:33

A timely article that nevertheless misses out a potentially significant and growing group of people that is supportive of Israel - Indians in India and the US. Also noteworthy is that Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon is visiting India on the second anniversary of September 11th. A slew of defense deals is slated to be signed during that visit.

The ascent of popular support for Israel in India has paralleled that for the conservative party that currently rules India. Unfortunately, elements in that party, the BJP, are also known for advocating extreme measures against India's 140 million strong Muslim population. Detractors, mostly strident leftists in India's so-called intelligentsia, have used that to attack the pro-Israeli stance of the government to the point of ignoring the massive terrorist threat that India faces - far greater than anything the US has encountered thus far.

Lastly, in the aftermath of India's nuclear explosions in 1998, the only country that virtually ignored the loud western (including the US) calls for sanctions was Israel. The Israelis continued to forge ties with the defense and political establishment in India - the Prime Minister's visit is a culmination of that effort.

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