Dear editor
Israel and India are fellow democracies who have spent an enormous amount of effort developing close relations. India has a lot of experience in dealing with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and Israel would be well advised to consider the following :
- In 1999, while Indian PM Vajpayee and Pakistani leader Musharraf were engaged in peace negotiations, Pakistan infiltrated thousands of soldiers into India's Kargil region and sparked a limited war which nearly escalated into a nuclear exchange;
- Before 9/11, Pakistan firmly supported the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Afterwards, despite officially siding with the U.S., thousands of al-Qaeda fighters have escaped and found refuge in Pakistan;
- Pakistani scientist A.Q. Khan provided nuclear designs and material to Libya, North Korea and Iran; Iran now threatens Israel with this nuclear expertise. Mr. Khan has been hailed by Musharraf as a national hero and has not permitted U.S. intelligence to question him.
- Israel should carefully evaluate whether it should jeopardize its relations with India to curry favour with an unpredictable nation such as Pakistan.
Ron Banerjee, Hindu Conference of Canada, Toronto.
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I disagree. Every state has diplomatic relations with every other state with few exceptions. It is unrealistice to expect friends not to have diplomatic relations with another state just because you don't or that you don't get along.
It is important for Israel to have diplomatic relations with any Muslem state that is willing to.
It is a separate matter entirely whether as a result Israel does not continue to enhance its relations with India. One need not nor should it be at the expense of the other.
We should not assume that negative relations with Israel will flow from positive relations with Pakistan. In fact such relations with Pakistan may result in Pakistan moving to rapprochment with India.
Ted
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Ted and Jonathan,
Please note that we do not object to diplomatic relations or talk or agreements. That would be foolish.
All we are suggesting is that due to the sensitive nature of the relationship with India, Israel may wish to send some public signals to India that their friendship remains strong. This can be done in a number of diplomatic ways - from a visit by the Indian PM, to other opposition leaders like former PM Vajpayee visiting, to MPs on Israel missions etc. Inviting the Indian media to Israel would also be good.
What is important is that the sense of betrayal not be created in the minds of the average people because of the new relations with Pakistan. Indians are very sensitive and have felt very isolated. While some may dismiss this is idle speculation, I can suggest to you that I have personally received some flak on this, and have responded as you did Ted.
At the end of the day, sovereign states must always act within their self-interest. It is in Israel's self-interest to re-assure Indians (not only the government) that their relationship is built on firmer foundations.
Finally, the Israel-Pakistan move is going to pressure India to do more with Israel. This is a good thing and it can be very helpful if India begins to understand that if it wishes to be taken seriously in the world (and by its friend Israel and America), they will need to re-evaluate their membership in the non-align movement as well as with the Organisation of Islamic States. Their UN votes also matter. All of this will be very good. India's foreign policy department needs to wake up to the reality of the 21st century and engage the world with new professionalism, not cold war thinking and alliances. In reality, I am not sure how far India will be able to go, as the governing leftist coalition (Congress Party - renown for its Hindu self-hatred) is holding onto government with the support of a Marxist party and the opposition BJP have not been properly cultivated to drive the Israel issue.
I do have great hope in the new India where over 50% of the population are 30 years.
We need to get to them and to influence their thinking.
Regards,
Naresh
Israel and Pakistan discuss relations
A series of letters in chronological order. The first two letters are in response to an editorial in Canadfa's National Post. Then comes my letter. The last letter is from Naresh Raghubeer who was one of the authors of the letter to JPost entitled Why is Israel betraying India?
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Dear editor, National Post
Re: Pakistan's Engagement, editorial,
This editorial indicates that a tentative relationship between Israel and Pakistan is beneficial to Israel and the West. I disagree. Pakistan is an Islamic dictatorship that refuses to recognize the existence of Israel and vilifies it in the press. Why enter into an alliance with such a suitor? Furthermore Israel is already promised to India, a democratic nation that has much in common with Israel. Is it worth jeopardizing a good marriage for a liaison with an unstable mistress?
Israel needs true friends. But it seems that Pakistan's reasons for opening a dialogue is either to upset Israel's relations with India or to please the United States. It is not worth jeopardizing the friendship of a democratic nation for a questionable relationship with an Islamic dictatorship.
Jonathan Usher, Toronto.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Dear editor
Israel and India are fellow democracies who have spent an enormous amount of effort developing close relations. India has a lot of experience in dealing with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and Israel would be well advised to consider the following :
- In 1999, while Indian PM Vajpayee and Pakistani leader Musharraf were engaged in peace negotiations, Pakistan infiltrated thousands of soldiers into India's Kargil region and sparked a limited war which nearly escalated into a nuclear exchange;
- Before 9/11, Pakistan firmly supported the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Afterwards, despite officially siding with the U.S., thousands of al-Qaeda fighters have escaped and found refuge in Pakistan;
- Pakistani scientist A.Q. Khan provided nuclear designs and material to Libya, North Korea and Iran; Iran now threatens Israel with this nuclear expertise. Mr. Khan has been hailed by Musharraf as a national hero and has not permitted U.S. intelligence to question him.
- Israel should carefully evaluate whether it should jeopardize its relations with India to curry favour with an unpredictable nation such as Pakistan.
Ron Banerjee, Hindu Conference of Canada, Toronto.
------------------------------------------------------------
I disagree. Every state has diplomatic relations with every other state with few exceptions. It is unrealistice to expect friends not to have diplomatic relations with another state just because you don't or that you don't get along.
It is important for Israel to have diplomatic relations with any Muslem state that is willing to.
It is a separate matter entirely whether as a result Israel does not continue to enhance its relations with India. One need not nor should it be at the expense of the other.
We should not assume that negative relations with Israel will flow from positive relations with Pakistan. In fact such relations with Pakistan may result in Pakistan moving to rapprochment with India.
Ted
------------------------------------------------------
Ted and Jonathan,
Please note that we do not object to diplomatic relations or talk or agreements. That would be foolish.
All we are suggesting is that due to the sensitive nature of the relationship with India, Israel may wish to send some public signals to India that their friendship remains strong. This can be done in a number of diplomatic ways - from a visit by the Indian PM, to other opposition leaders like former PM Vajpayee visiting, to MPs on Israel missions etc. Inviting the Indian media to Israel would also be good.
What is important is that the sense of betrayal not be created in the minds of the average people because of the new relations with Pakistan. Indians are very sensitive and have felt very isolated. While some may dismiss this is idle speculation, I can suggest to you that I have personally received some flak on this, and have responded as you did Ted.
At the end of the day, sovereign states must always act within their self-interest. It is in Israel's self-interest to re-assure Indians (not only the government) that their relationship is built on firmer foundations.
Finally, the Israel-Pakistan move is going to pressure India to do more with Israel. This is a good thing and it can be very helpful if India begins to understand that if it wishes to be taken seriously in the world (and by its friend Israel and America), they will need to re-evaluate their membership in the non-align movement as well as with the Organisation of Islamic States. Their UN votes also matter. All of this will be very good. India's foreign policy department needs to wake up to the reality of the 21st century and engage the world with new professionalism, not cold war thinking and alliances. In reality, I am not sure how far India will be able to go, as the governing leftist coalition (Congress Party - renown for its Hindu self-hatred) is holding onto government with the support of a Marxist party and the opposition BJP have not been properly cultivated to drive the Israel issue.
I do have great hope in the new India where over 50% of the population are 30 years.
We need to get to them and to influence their thinking.
Regards,
Naresh
Posted by Ted Belman at September 7, 2005 10:31 AM