Namaste, Shalom To Friendship

Foreign ministers of India, Israel write to mark the 30th anniversary of establishing full diplomatic ties

S Jaishankar and Yair Lapid

Four thousand kilometres separate India and Israel. Today marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the two countries. From agriculture and water management to innovation and security, the two countries share knowledge, projects and, most importantly, a vision for the future. In recent months, along with the UAE and US, we have partnered in a unique diplomatic dialogue.

If there is one significant point of similarity between Indian and Israeli cultures, it is that both are rooted in deep histories. Among others, Ramayan and Mahabharat, and Tanakh and Talmud, are grand, dramatic epics that tell the story of a people as well as moral stories which define the norms and the laws of life.

When diplomatic relations were upgraded between our countries exactly 30 years ago, both sides felt a sense of curiosity towards the other, but also a sense of understanding. We are two ancient civilisations with great stories, but we are also two young and energetic democracies motivated by openness towards innovation and the ability to connect with other cultures.

The ancient histories of our peoples offer us perspective. We know that friendship and trust are not only positive qualities but also genuine assets in relations. Hanging in the bedroom of Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, was a photo of Mahatma Gandhi. Over the past 30 years, we have been realising the essence of Gandhiji’s thoughts and Ben-Gurion’s vision in our bilateral relationship. We’ve discovered that together, we can do more.