India and Israel mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of full diplomatic relations in January 2017. While relations between the two countries have been soaring for much of this time, in recent years and under the current BJP-led NDA government a new era of visibility has ensued. While president Pranab Mukherjee went to Israel in 2016 in a historic first visit, Israeli president Reuven Rivlin paid a weeklong visit to India in November 2016. In between there have been several other high-profile bilateral visits of ministers. While ties between the two countries are perceived to be all about defence and security, Israeli ambassador in India Daniel Carmon sheds light on the other major areas of bilateral cooperation – namely, agriculture and irrigation.
India and Isreal are celebrating the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations. How would you evaluate the ties?
This month of January 2017 is the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Israel. I can say those relations have seen a revolutionary improvement from their initial settings till today. Those two countries, representing different regions, are so different in their initial settings, their numbers, size, Israel is such a small country, compared to India, in the side of the population, in the background, and yet we have found in those 25 years, common grounds, common values, similar challenges.
India and Israel have learnt to partner in areas that are complementary, like in health and are counting on each other. In no uncertain terms, they are going through a wonderful journey of friendship and partnership in which two countries, and their governments and populations benefit respectively.
We are two nations and two people with long historical traditions who got independence around the same time, in 1947 and 1948 respectively, from the British and we have the same heritage and learnt to develop our own identity and independence and democracy and liberty. We are both relatively young people and very eager to develop ourselves as we look to the future and we both have a lot of interest in doing it together.
That’s something we keep saying but the more we experience our relations the more we understand the potential it has. We are not just talking the talk but also walking the walk in various fields according to our own experiences.
President Rivlin recently visited India and in 2015, president Pranab Mukherjee visited Israel. Prime minister Modi is yet to visit. A little too slow?
This story is from the January 1, 2017 edition of GovernanceNow.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 1, 2017 edition of GovernanceNow.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Deadly Smoke Signals
As India struggles to check tobacco use and the losses it inflicts, tobacco firms up the ante
Light At The End Of The Tunnel
No doubt, the tobacco industry has proved the greatest stumbling block in promoting healthy lifestyles. But tobacco use is nevertheless falling
Pandit Jasraj
Born in a small village near Hisar in Haryana, Pandit Jasraj comes from a family of musicians of over four generations. Jasraj was initiated to music by his revered father, Pandit Motiram. Soon after his death, Jasraj went through intensive tutelage under his elder brother and guru, Pandit Maniram, and later under Maharaja Jaiwant Singh. He performed in the Mewati gharana style. Jasraj’s voice is known for its vocal range, extending over three-and-a-half octaves, perfect diction, clarity in sur and gayaki and command in all aspects of laya and rhythm. Jasraj has also trained young vocalists like Rattan Mohan Sharma and Kala Ramnath. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1990 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2000. Recently, he sang ‘namami devi narmade’, the anthem of the Narmada Seva Mission of the Madhya Pradesh government.
Making The Cloud Industry-Friendly
The telecom regulator may soon propose a simple regulatory framework for cloud computing
Tamil Nadu's New Empress
It has been a meteoric rise for Sasikala, who once ran a video-casette business. She is now on the verge of being anointed successor to late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa.
Indian PSUs: Is A Metamorphosis Possible?
As PSU awards come to a close, a look at what made some stand out against the rest.
Does The Net Speak Dogri?
Not yet, but government and industry are trying to make the cornucopia of information on the net available in Indian languages.
Spectrum Auction: Winners And Losers
Now that the big bang event is over, where does the consumer stand in the new scenario?
killer seeds of malkangiri
over 100 children have died in odisha’s tribal district and the killer was not japanese encephalitis. the deaths were caused by cassia poisoning.
The Power Of 10
India all set to ramp up its engagement with ASEAN countries
