Indian minister hints defense ties with Israel to continue

India's new government reiterated Thursday its commitment to the Palestinian cause, but implied that security ties to Israel will continue.

"Traditional ties with West Asia will be given a fresh thrust," the coalition said in a policy road map released Thursday. "The government reiterates India's decades-old commitment to the cause of the Palestinian people for a homeland of their own."

But asked whether this means a reduction in defense ties between India and Israel, Pranab Mukherjee, the new defense minister, replied that the coalition parties are in agreement over the country's defense needs. An Indian newspaper interpreted this as meaning that defense ties will continue.

This year, Israel and India signed an agreement for Israel to sell three Phalcon airborne radar systems to India.

Continue..


India remains an important trading partner to Israel. On issues of conflict, India can be a source of balanced reflection.

It will work only from a relative distance and a practice of detachment.