DOI: 10.21121/eab.202600234 ISSN: 1303-099X

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

Yucel Bulut
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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.

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