From the Voice of Palestine to a Friend of Israel: India’s Middle East Transformation (1947 to 2014)

Abstract

This study examines the profound transformation of India’s foreign policy in the Middle East between 1947 and 2014, a shift historically framed through the lens of the Palestine–Israel question for both geopolitical and ideological reasons. From independence until 1992, India’s position aligned with its leadership role in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), adhering to Nehruvian principles of supporting the oppressed and opposing colonialism. This orientation ensured consistent diplomatic backing for Palestine while carefully avoiding formal engagement with Israel. The post-Cold War era, however, marked a turning point. In 1992, India and Israel formally established diplomatic relations, initiating gradual yet steady cooperation across multiple sectors. Although India continued to voice support for Palestine in international forums, bilateral ties with Israel expanded significantly between 1992 and 2014, reinforced by right-wing political tendencies within India that favored closer alignment with Israel. Traditionally, India’s vast Muslim population and deep-rooted partnerships with Arab states had constrained such cooperation. Yet shifting regional dynamics, coupled with Israel’s contributions in defence, agriculture, and technology, encouraged India to recalibrate its position and move away from its Nehruvian legacy. By situating this historical trajectory within the broader context of India–Israel relations, the study highlights the gradual erosion of anti-colonial foreign policy principles and the emergence of pragmatic, interest-driven cooperation. In doing so, it seeks to fill a gap in the literature by offering a descriptive historical analysis of India’s evolving stance before and after the Cold War.

Keywords

• Palestine
• India
• Israel
• BJP
• Non-Aligned Movement
• NAM

Ethical Statement

Upon completion of the study, artificial intelligence support was utilized to improve the flow of writing and to correct grammatical and typographical errors.

Filistin’in Sesi’nden İsrail’in Dostuna: Hindistan’ın Ortadoğu’daki Dönüşümü (1947–2014)

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Hindistan’ın Orta Doğu’daki dış politikasının 1947 ile 2014 yılları arasında geçirdiği köklü dönüşümü incelemektedir. Bu değişim, tarihsel olarak hem jeopolitik hem de ideolojik nedenlerle Filistin–İsrail meselesi ekseninde çerçevelenmiştir. Bağımsızlıktan 1992 yılına kadar Hindistan’ın tutumu, Bağlantısızlar Hareketi’ndeki (NAM) liderlik rolüyle uyumlu bir şekilde, mazlumdan yana olmayı ve sömürgeciliğe karşı çıkmayı esas alan Nehruvian ilkelere dayanmaktaydı. Bu yönelim, Filistin’e sürekli diplomatik destek sağlarken İsrail ile resmî angajmandan dikkatle kaçınılmasını mümkün kılmıştır. Soğuk Savaş sonrası dönem ise bir dönüm noktası olmuştur. 1992’de Hindistan ve İsrail resmî diplomatik ilişkiler kurarak çok sayıda alanda kademeli ama istikrarlı bir işbirliği sürecini başlatmıştır. Hindistan uluslararası platformlarda Filistin’e desteğini sürdürse de 1992–2014 arasında İsrail ile ikili ilişkiler kayda değer biçimde gelişmiş, Hindistan içindeki sağcı siyasal eğilimler bu yakınlaşmayı güçlendirmiştir. Geleneksel olarak Hindistan’ın geniş Müslüman nüfusu ve Arap devletleriyle köklü ortaklıkları böyle bir işbirliğini kısıtlamıştı. Ancak bölgesel dinamiklerdeki değişim ve İsrail’in savunma, tarım ve teknoloji alanlarındaki katkıları, Hindistan’ı tutumunu yeniden değerlendirmeye ve Nehruvian mirastan uzaklaşmaya teşvik etmiştir. Çalışma, bu tarihsel seyri Hindistan–İsrail ilişkilerinin daha geniş bağlamına oturtarak, sömürge karşıtı dış politika ilkelerinin kademeli olarak aşınmasını ve pragmatik, çıkar odaklı bir işbirliğinin ortaya çıkışını vurgulamaktadır. Böylece, Soğuk Savaş öncesi ve sonrasındaki Hindistan’ın değişen tutumuna ilişkin betimleyici tarihsel bir analiz sunarak literatürdeki önemli bir boşluğu doldurmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Keywords

• Filistin
• İsrail
• Hindistan
• Bağlantısızlar Hareketi
• askeri işbirliği

Ethical Statement

Çalışma tamamlandıktan sonra, yazım akışını geliştirmek ve gramer ile yazım hatalarını düzeltmek amacıyla yapay zekâ desteğinden yararlanılmıştır.

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