Israel's Foreign Minister Highlights India as "Global Superpower" in Strengthening Strategic Partnership

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar described India as a "global superpower" and stated that relations between the two democracies are "stronger than ever," encompassing areas from defense and innovation to counterterrorism and trade.

This was the Israeli minister's only interview in India following his meeting with External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, highlighting the importance of the growing India-Israel partnership amidst Middle East volatility.

In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Sa'ar remarked, "We are improving consistently. We are thankful for India's friendship." He revealed that the two nations were preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation. "We are moving forward on defense, agriculture, and economy, but we always have the passion to make it stronger," he added.

The MoU was formalized in Tel Aviv during the 17th India-Israel Joint Working Group meeting on Defense Cooperation, co-chaired by Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Major General (Res.) Amir Baram, Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

Reflecting on the October 7, 2023, terror attacks by Hamas that sparked the ongoing conflict, Sa'ar expressed profound gratitude for India's prompt condemnation. "We will not forget the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first world leader to call Prime Minister Netanyahu on that awful day," he stated. "India stood by us, and we will remember that."

Regarding the stalled Gaza peace process, Sa'ar emphasized the need for consistency. "The most important thing is to keep the Trump peace plan as the only game in town," he said, cautioning against deviations pushed by other global actors. "It's a stage-by-stage plan, realistic and implementable. India, as a world leader, has a key role in ensuring it remains on track."

When questioned about the long-debated two-state solution, the Israeli foreign minister maintained a firm position. "We cannot today establish a Palestinian state that will endanger our security," Sa'ar stated, noting that the Middle East still faces "terror states" from Gaza to Lebanon and Yemen, supported by Iran.

"The Trump plan doesn't say we must have a Palestinian state – it depends on circumstances. We've learned from past mistakes, and we will not repeat them," he declared.

Concerning Hamas, Sa'ar said Israel's objective remains dismantling the group's military power and replacing its governance in Gaza. "Hamas continues to execute rivals in daylight to instill fear. Our plan is to put someone else in power and to end this terror regime once and for all," he asserted.

Sa'ar acknowledged that India and Israel share "the same pain and experience" of terror. "There is terror everywhere, and the people of India, unfortunately, know its horrors," he said. "We designate organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba as terror groups and cooperate closely on intelligence, technology, and defense. No country has greater experience confronting terror than Israel, and we are ready to share it with India."

He disclosed that new frameworks for defense and intelligence sharing are being advanced, reflecting what he termed "a real strategic partnership" between the nations.

Discussing economic and connectivity projects, Sa'ar noted that Israel is prepared to revive initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), first announced during the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi. "Because of the war, there was a hiatus, but we are ready to move forward again," he said.

Regarding Adani Group's majority stake in Haifa Port, Sa'ar called it a "symbol of trust." "Israel's air defense system protects our country and the investments made here. We welcome Adani's investment – it's important for both sides," he affirmed.

He also stressed the need to restore direct flights between India and Israel to boost tourism, trade, and mobility of Indian workers contributing to Israel's development sectors.

Sa'ar concluded the interview optimistically about the relationship between Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Netanyahu. "Their conversations are very open, on strategic and delicate matters. I hope they meet soon," he said.

"There is a mutual desire to have a real strategic partnership. India is the future. Israel is smaller, but we are a regional power. Together, we can do great things, and I'm sure we will."

Sa'ar also confirmed that Israel will participate at a senior level in next year's Artificial Intelligence Summit in India, signaling the next frontier of cooperation between the two democracies.