The Jerusalum summit with Indian leaders
On June 8th and 9th, 2007 The Jerusalem Summit co-sponsored, together with Tel Aviv University (TAU), a conference on the security, foreign policy and economic aspects of the relationship between India and Israel. Other co-sponsors were Israel foremost business daily, Globes, the Israel Export Institute, and prominent Australian businessman Brian Sherman, AO. The conference was held on the TAU Campus and the guest of honor was M.P. Jaswant Singh, who is currently head of the Opposition in the Upper House of the Indian Parliament and who served as Minister of Defense, Minister of External Affairs and Minister of Finance in the previous government of India.
Discussion opened with welcoming remarks by TAU president, Prof. Itamar Rabinowich. The conference agenda was divided into two portions with the morning session dealing with Security and Foreign Policy issues, and the afternoon session with Economic and Commercial Aspects. The first session included prominent Israeli participants from the past and present security and foreign service establishment. Among these were Dr. Yuval Steinitz, M.K – Chairman, Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defence Committee , Maj. General (res.) Giora Eiland – Head of the National Security Council, Prof. Moshe Arens - Former Foreign & Defense Minister, Mr. Shabtai Shavit – Former Head of the Mossad , V/Adm (res.) Alex Tal. former Commander of the Israel Navy, , Maj. General (res) Yaakov Amidror Former Commander of the Israeli Military Colleges, Prof. Maj. Gen. (res) Isaac Ben-Israel, Tel Aviv University and former Director of Defense R&D Directorate in Ministry of Defense, Mr. Itzhak Gerberg – Former Consul-General of Israel in India. Prominent Indian academic Prof. PR Kumaraswamy, of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi also took part giving some insightful perspectives from the Indian point of view. The session was chaired by Dr. Martin Sherman, the academic director of the Jerusalem Summit.
While almost all the speakers warmly commended the close and cordial relations between the two countries, a number of Israeli delegates raised two points of concern: (a) India's voting record at international institutions – particularly at the UN – which, with the notable exception at the2001 Conference on Racism in Durban, has been one of consistent support for anti Israeli resolutions, and (b) the close ties between New Delhi and Teheran. In response to these concerns, Jaswant Singh stated that with regard to India's posture at international forums, positive changes were underway but this would be a gradual process as is often the case in India. With regard to Iran, he asserted that India no special military relationship with that country and that Indo-Iranian ties were principally historical and cultural, based on ancient contacts between the non-Arab Moslem communities in both countries and the mutual influence that they had on each other over the centuries (particularly with regard to Sufi thinking, so very different from the radical Islam that prevails in Iran today). According to Singh, ties with Iran also reflected India's energy needs which have been growing rapidly in recent years, but India would in no way sacrifice its wider national identity and interests for convenient sources of oil.
The afternoon session, chaired by Dr. Ora Setter, Head of the Lahav executive program at TAU, featured a number of leading figures in the Israeli business world who have commercial experience with India, and as well as members of related academic and public institutions. These included Dr. Ehud Ganani – President & CEO, Israel Military Industries (IMI), Mr. Amos Nadai – Deputy Director General, (Asia & Pacific) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. David Assia – Chairman, Magic , Dr. Yoram Sebba, Vice Chairman, Zim Integrated Shipping Service Ltd., Prof. Gadi Ariav – Academic Director, the Georges Leven High Tech Management School, Tel-Aviv University, Mr. Shauli Katznelson – Division Director, Professional Services, The Israel Export Institute, Mr. Ariel Kolitz – Managing Director, Global Outsourcing, an Elul Group Company, Adv. Anat Bernstein-Reich – Deputy Chairperson, Israel-India Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Amos Galon – Independent Consultant & formerly Amdocs India, Mr. Nir Golan – Account manager of India, Alvarion. Most the speakers stressed the tremendous potential inherent in the Indo-Israeli partnership but cautioned that bringing it to fruition requires great patience and a willingness to bridge cross-cultural gaps. Jaswant Singh urged the audience to endure the admitted difficulties in doing business in India assuring them that "if you invest in India …[rather than] invest[ing] only in a project in India … you will never lose. There is a difference, it is not such a subtle difference. If you address yourself to it you will find that once you adopt India, invest in India, there is no way that you can lose because then India and Indians will not let you lose." Singh, who is considered a serious contender for the premiership of India, ended the conference on a humorous note, putting every one on notice that "I won't be permanently the opposition".
Discussion opened with welcoming remarks by TAU president, Prof. Itamar Rabinowich. The conference agenda was divided into two portions with the morning session dealing with Security and Foreign Policy issues, and the afternoon session with Economic and Commercial Aspects. The first session included prominent Israeli participants from the past and present security and foreign service establishment. Among these were Dr. Yuval Steinitz, M.K – Chairman, Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defence Committee , Maj. General (res.) Giora Eiland – Head of the National Security Council, Prof. Moshe Arens - Former Foreign & Defense Minister, Mr. Shabtai Shavit – Former Head of the Mossad , V/Adm (res.) Alex Tal. former Commander of the Israel Navy, , Maj. General (res) Yaakov Amidror Former Commander of the Israeli Military Colleges, Prof. Maj. Gen. (res) Isaac Ben-Israel, Tel Aviv University and former Director of Defense R&D Directorate in Ministry of Defense, Mr. Itzhak Gerberg – Former Consul-General of Israel in India. Prominent Indian academic Prof. PR Kumaraswamy, of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi also took part giving some insightful perspectives from the Indian point of view. The session was chaired by Dr. Martin Sherman, the academic director of the Jerusalem Summit.
While almost all the speakers warmly commended the close and cordial relations between the two countries, a number of Israeli delegates raised two points of concern: (a) India's voting record at international institutions – particularly at the UN – which, with the notable exception at the2001 Conference on Racism in Durban, has been one of consistent support for anti Israeli resolutions, and (b) the close ties between New Delhi and Teheran. In response to these concerns, Jaswant Singh stated that with regard to India's posture at international forums, positive changes were underway but this would be a gradual process as is often the case in India. With regard to Iran, he asserted that India no special military relationship with that country and that Indo-Iranian ties were principally historical and cultural, based on ancient contacts between the non-Arab Moslem communities in both countries and the mutual influence that they had on each other over the centuries (particularly with regard to Sufi thinking, so very different from the radical Islam that prevails in Iran today). According to Singh, ties with Iran also reflected India's energy needs which have been growing rapidly in recent years, but India would in no way sacrifice its wider national identity and interests for convenient sources of oil.
The afternoon session, chaired by Dr. Ora Setter, Head of the Lahav executive program at TAU, featured a number of leading figures in the Israeli business world who have commercial experience with India, and as well as members of related academic and public institutions. These included Dr. Ehud Ganani – President & CEO, Israel Military Industries (IMI), Mr. Amos Nadai – Deputy Director General, (Asia & Pacific) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. David Assia – Chairman, Magic , Dr. Yoram Sebba, Vice Chairman, Zim Integrated Shipping Service Ltd., Prof. Gadi Ariav – Academic Director, the Georges Leven High Tech Management School, Tel-Aviv University, Mr. Shauli Katznelson – Division Director, Professional Services, The Israel Export Institute, Mr. Ariel Kolitz – Managing Director, Global Outsourcing, an Elul Group Company, Adv. Anat Bernstein-Reich – Deputy Chairperson, Israel-India Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Amos Galon – Independent Consultant & formerly Amdocs India, Mr. Nir Golan – Account manager of India, Alvarion. Most the speakers stressed the tremendous potential inherent in the Indo-Israeli partnership but cautioned that bringing it to fruition requires great patience and a willingness to bridge cross-cultural gaps. Jaswant Singh urged the audience to endure the admitted difficulties in doing business in India assuring them that "if you invest in India …[rather than] invest[ing] only in a project in India … you will never lose. There is a difference, it is not such a subtle difference. If you address yourself to it you will find that once you adopt India, invest in India, there is no way that you can lose because then India and Indians will not let you lose." Singh, who is considered a serious contender for the premiership of India, ended the conference on a humorous note, putting every one on notice that "I won't be permanently the opposition".
posted by Howard at
10:41 PM
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1 Comments:
India and Israel have got very good relationship. They share common problem of terrorism which makes them natural allies. Apart from this, both countries also share intelligence inputs. There has been deal in defence sectors like BARAK missiles. Somedays ago, Israeli scientists were in India to give some technical knowhow on anti-missile system.
This is only one aspect of story. The other part is that India doesn't show much warmth in relations with Israel in public because it may offend Indian muslims which are staunch enemy of Israel. Other point is of govermnment in India. The current UPA government becomes very much cautious when it comes the name of Israel. The reason is that they have large muslim vote bank. The relations flourished more in tenure of NDA government in India because they have got no muslim vote bank and they thrive on anti muslim feelings. The example of good relationship is BARAK missile deal which was signed under NDA government.
Israel is also the role model for indian hindu religious extremist group RSS. They cite Israel as an example whenever they comment on increasing muslim atrocities. They feel that India should also fight with terrorism like Israel.
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