Indian prime minister Modi is set to visit Israel at a perilous moment in time : NPR

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to Israel on Wednesday for a two-day visit. It’s only the second time an Indian prime minister has visited Israel. The first was when Modi visited the country back in 2017. NPR’s Diaa Hadid reports this comes at a perilous time.

DIAA HADID, BYLINE: India used to be a strong ally of Palestinians. This is a former prime minister, Indira Gandhi, speaking in 1983 in New Delhi. The audio is from WildFilmsIndia.

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INDIRA GANDHI: We are of one mind in our support for the brave, homeless and much harassed Palestinian people.

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HADID: In the ’90s, Gandhi’s own party began relations with Israel when there was hope that a peace deal could be found with Palestinians. But India has moved on, and for the past decade, the country has been ruled by the Hindu nationalist BJP party, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. And he calls the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, his friend. Their 2017 visit involved them walking on the beach, cuffs rolled up. Now…

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UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: India and Israel are set to take their strategic partnership to the next level as prime minister…

HADID: That’s news channel India Today Global, and it reflects what analysts are saying – that this visit is about boosting India’s defense capabilities.

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HADID: It comes after what was a visceral moment for many, when India clashed with Pakistan last May.

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HADID: Pakistan was armed and supplied by India’s other neighbor and rival, China. Kabir Taneja is from the Indian think tank the Observer Research Foundation.

KABIR TANEJA: India’s interest is how do you counter this immediate threat.

HADID: He says that Israel can provide defense systems and weaponry that work alongside India’s array of equipment from different countries. This visit comes at a dramatic time. Here’s a recent news update from CNN.

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BRIANNA KEILAR: The U.S. military is prepared to strike Iran as early as this weekend.

HADID: One analyst expressed surprise at the timing. Nicolas Blarel is at Leiden University in the Netherlands and writes on India-Israel relations.

NICOLAS BLAREL: Usually, this is a risk-averse government, so this is very interesting that they’re willing to commit.

HADID: During Modi’s visit, he’s expected to address the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. Opposition lawmakers are threatening to boycott the session to protest against Netanyahu. Blarel says that boycott might prove the cover that India needs if Modi has to hastily change his plans. Diaa Hadid, NPR News, Mumbai.

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