Israeli PM's Jordan Valley remarks spotlight how India moved from decades of pro-Palestine solidarity to one of Israel's closest partnerships in Asia

Netanyahu's Remarkable Tribute

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at a leadership programme in the Jordan Valley on Thursday, called India a "huge power" with "absolutely crazy love for Israel" — even as he acknowledged the Jewish state faces delegitimisation across much of the world.

"We are expanding our alliances and what you are talking about is expanding these alliances to a large space. And the larger space is really our unique relationship with a huge power called India," Netanyahu said. A video of the remarks was released by Israel's Government Press Office.

The words landed with weight. Not because praise between allied leaders is unusual, but because of how far India has travelled to reach this point.

From Nehru to Netanyahu

Post-Independence India was, for decades, among the most vocal champions of Palestinian self-determination. The ideological roots ran deep — Mahatma Gandhi had opposed the imposition of a Jewish state on Arab land as far back as 1938, framing it as an extension of colonial logic. Nehru, scarred by India's own Partition, voted against the UN's Palestine partition plan in 1947 and opposed Israel's admission to the UN in 1949.

India recognised the State of Palestine in 1988 — among the earliest countries to do so. Yasser Arafat enjoyed an almost fraternal relationship with Indian leadership through those years.

Yet even then, the story had a quieter subplot. Israel supplied military assistance to India during the 1962 war with China, the 1965 conflict with Pakistan, and again during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. Covert intelligence cooperation reportedly predated formal ties by decades.

1992: The Quiet Opening

The Cold War's collapse forced a rethink. Economic liberalisation under Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao brought India closer to Western markets and, simultaneously, to Israel. Full diplomatic relations were established in 1992 — a turning point that set the stage for everything that followed.

The 1999 Kargil War deepened the bond further. Israel reportedly supplied laser-guided bombs, surveillance drones and critical equipment on short notice, cementing a perception inside India's security establishment that Israel was a reliable partner when it mattered most.

Modi Changes the Optics Entirely

The shift became most visible after 2014. Earlier governments had quietly deepened ties with Israel while keeping the public posture tilted toward Palestine. Narendra Modi changed that calculus openly. In 2017, he became the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel — and notably, did not pair the trip with a Palestine stop, as his predecessors had done. He visited Ramallah separately in 2018.

Earlier this year, Modi made a second official visit to Israel, addressing the Knesset to a standing ovation and pledging "friendship, respect and partnership" with Israel at a time when its global standing has been under strain due to the Gaza war.

Ahead of that visit, Modi said India "deeply values its enduring friendship with Israel, built on trust, innovation, and a shared commitment to peace and progress."

Defence Ties: The Backbone

The strategic partnership is not simply rhetorical. India and Israel have significantly strengthened bilateral relations across defence, agriculture, water management, cybersecurity, healthcare, and emerging technologies. According to SIPRI data cited in earlier analyses, India accounted for roughly one-third of Israel's arms exports between 2020 and 2024 — drones, missile systems, radar technology, surveillance equipment.

October 7 and the Tone That Changed

The Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 was another inflection point. Prime Minister Modi was among the first world leaders to characterise it as a "terrorist attack" and express solidarity with Israel. India's subsequent abstentions on UN resolutions calling for humanitarian ceasefires in Gaza drew attention globally — a marked departure from India's earlier posture of careful balance.

New Delhi has continued to formally support the two-state solution and Palestinian statehood. But the diplomatic signals have been unmistakable.

The Balance India Still Tries to Keep

The transformation does not mean India has abandoned its older ties. Gulf nations remain critical partners — for energy imports, Indian diaspora remittances, and investment. India maintains warm relations with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Arab states, and cannot afford to be seen as wholly aligned with Israeli military policy in the region.

But Netanyahu's "crazy love" remark — offhand as it may have sounded — captures something real. He made the comment precisely while discussing Israel's need to expand international partnerships amid security challenges on multiple fronts. India's name came up first, and it did not come up accidentally.

The arc from Nehru's vote against Israel at the UN to Modi's address to the Knesset spans seven decades. It has been shaped by security pragmatism, ideological evolution, economic interests and geopolitical realism. Whatever India's official position on the conflict in Gaza, that arc tells its own story.

UNSC reform 'not an option, but a necessity', Iran's Araghchi tells BRICS meet

Iranian foreign minister accuses US, Israel of targeting schools and civilians in strikes that began February 28

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday called for sweeping reforms of the United Nations Security Council, describing the overhaul as essential for the world body's survival, while launching sharp criticisms against the United States and Israel over military strikes targeting Iranian civilians and infrastructure.

Speaking on the second day of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the Indian capital, Araghchi accused both nations of deliberately attacking schools, refineries, bridges, and cultural sites in a campaign he said began on the morning of February 28.

Military strikes and civilian casualties

According to Araghchi, the military aggression commenced at 9:30 am on Saturday, February 28, and did not allow sufficient time for schools to evacuate students. He alleged that the Minab School was struck in a second attack before children could be moved to safety.

"The Iranian government immediately announced a nationwide school closure after the terrorist act against the Supreme Leader and the beginning of the military aggression," Araghchi said. "But the aggressors did not even give children half an hour to survive."

The foreign minister claimed that refineries, petrochemical complexes, railway networks, stadiums, energy transmission lines, and industrial facilities have also been targeted. Officials familiar with his remarks said these allegations were among the most detailed Iran has presented at a multilateral forum to date.

Double standards condemned

Araghchi urged international organisations and member governments to reject what he described as selective application of humanitarian law. He warned that silence over civilian suffering in Iran could set a dangerous precedent globally.

"If today we remain silent in the face of the suffering of the Iranian people, in the face of the unjustly shed blood of citizens, in the face of the terror of children in schools in Minab, and in the face of attacks on infrastructure, tomorrow this cycle of violence and instability could spread to any other part of the world," he said.

The Iranian minister stressed that a child's life in Minab holds equal value to a child's life anywhere else. Sources present at the session said his remarks drew mixed reactions from participating delegations.

UNSC reform a necessity

Shifting focus to global governance, Araghchi described reform of the United Nations Security Council as unavoidable. He argued that the current structure serves the interests of a few powers at the expense of fair representation.

"We seek a Council that truly represents all continents and regions of the world, a Council in which power is distributed responsibly and fairly, and not just in the interests of a few abusive and aggressive powers," he said.

The Iranian foreign minister also highlighted BRICS as having the potential to become the backbone of genuine multilateralism. His comments come as the grouping continues discussions on expanding its influence in global decision-making.

India's role and meeting context

The BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting, being held in New Delhi, has brought together top diplomats from member nations including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa alongside recently joined countries. The session titled "Rebuilding the Global Order: The Necessity of Reforming International Governance and Revival of Multilateralism" has seen sharp exchanges over the past two days.

Local authorities confirmed heightened security around the venue in the capital's diplomatic enclave. The meeting is scheduled to conclude Saturday afternoon.

India may play role in US-Iran peace efforts, says Rajnath Singh

New Delhi signals readiness for larger diplomatic engagement as West Asia faces critical juncture

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has indicated that India could play a constructive role in future peace efforts between the United States and Iran. Speaking in Berlin, the minister said such a possibility cannot be ruled out as the West Asia crisis continues to impact global stability.

Strategic balancing act

Singh noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already appealed to both sides to end the conflict. New Delhi has maintained a “balanced approach” in all diplomatic engagements throughout the war. The defence minister added that India’s role in peace initiatives may grow over time. This expansion, he clarified, would depend entirely on global circumstances and regional requirements.

Fresh firing in Hormuz

The statement came shortly after fresh escalation in the Strait of Hormuz. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre reported that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired upon a container ship early Wednesday. The incident occurred 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman. A Guard gunboat reportedly did not issue any radio warning before opening fire. The vessel sustained heavy damage to its bridge, though all crew members remained safe.

Trump extends ceasefire

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the existing ceasefire with Iran. Trump claimed Tehran is now “starving for cash” and losing approximately $500 million daily due to the naval blockade. He added that Iranian military and police personnel are not receiving salaries. The extension came at the request of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to Trump.

Iranian conditions for talks

Tehran has linked any fresh negotiations to the lifting of US port restrictions. Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir-Saeid Iravani stated that the United States must halt what he called “violation of the ceasefire” before any new round. “As soon as they lift the blockade, the next round will be held in Islamabad,” Iravani told Iranian media. He added that Iran is prepared for any scenario, political or military.

Chinese warning on escalation

China has warned that West Asia stands at a “very critical juncture.” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the region could either move toward peace or slip back into full-scale conflict. Beijing urged all efforts to be made to prevent a resumption of hostilities. This warning followed reports of a second ship coming under attack in the same waters shortly after the first incident.

What lies ahead

Military planners from nearly 30 countries are now meeting in London to flesh out details of a potential Hormuz security mission. Britain and France are leading the two-day gathering at a UK command centre. The plan remains dependent on a sustainable ceasefire holding between Washington and Tehran. For India, officials suggested that any formal peace role would likely emerge only after the second round of Islamabad talks concludes. As an English News Portal India update confirmed, New Delhi is watching the situation closely while ensuring safe passage for its own tankers through the conflict zone.

Senior BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya arrived in Jabalpur on Wednesday night, where he participated in multiple local events and interacted with the media. During his visit, he spoke at length on international developments, India’s diplomatic stance, and upcoming political battles, particularly in West Bengal. Later, he departed for Indore.

Analogy on US role in Israel-Iran tensions

Referring to the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran, Vijayvargiya criticized the involvement of the United States. He described the US as playing the role of a “cat” in the conflict, drawing a parallel with a popular fable in which a cat benefits while two monkeys fight over bread. According to him, the dispute is primarily between Israel and Iran, but the US is leveraging the situation for its own strategic advantage while the actual parties remain locked in conflict.

Praise for India’s diplomatic balance

Speaking at the event, Vijayvargiya praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his foreign policy approach. He said that India has successfully maintained balanced relations with both Iran and Israel, which reflects strong and mature diplomacy. He emphasized that despite global tensions, both nations consider India a trusted partner, highlighting the effectiveness of India’s international engagement strategy.

Strong claim on West Bengal elections

Turning to domestic politics, Vijayvargiya made a confident prediction regarding the upcoming elections in West Bengal. He asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party will not only perform strongly but will also form the government in the state. His remarks indicate the party’s aggressive stance and high expectations ahead of the polls.

Statement on national loyalty

Without naming any individuals or groups, Vijayvargiya also raised concerns about national loyalty. He said that some people live in India but do not show commitment or loyalty toward the country. He urged citizens to recognize their responsibilities, adding that such individuals may eventually understand their duties with time.