Afro Asian Business Chronicle

Israel No military solution to West Asia confict

There has been a paradigm shift in Israel-India relations in the past over one and a half decades with both countries strengthening their bilateral and strategic relationship.  Adopting a pragmatic approach to developing bilateral relations the two countries have in the recent past upped their engagements particularly in sectors of  Defence, Intelligence Sharing, Agriculture, and Water Management.  In an exclusive interview to Renu Malhotra, Editor-in-Chief of Afro Asian Business Chronicle, the outgoing Ambassador of Israel to India  H.E. Mark Sofer shared his thoughts on his four-year "roller coaster" tenure in India and dwelt at length on various issues of international significance. Excerpts:

You have been in India as Ambassador of Israel for about four years.  What has been your experience with the largest democracy and could you elaborate on the high and low points of achievements during your stay here?

Given the exceptionally wide range of interaction in all spheres of human endeavour, this has undoubtedly been the most exciting and challenging period in my almost thirty years as a career diplomat. I could certainly characterize it as a roller coaster ride without one dull moment and without a single day of rest.

There have been so many high points during my stay here which will soon come to an end, that it is difficult to single out one.  I do think that the opening of the Israeli Agricultural Centre of Excellence in Karnal, Haryana gave a true feeling of satisfaction - especially when you see such huge numbers of farmers visiting there to learn new Israeli farming technologies which will so enhance their welfare.

Yet without any doubt, the low point of my tour of duty here was the Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008.  Our hearts and minds go out to the almost 200 Indians who were brutally cut down by rabid extremism and of course, I will never forget the direct targeting of Jews and Israelis at Nariman House by those fanatic murderers, whose sole aim was the unbridled massacre of innocent people.

Are you happy with the evolving bilateral economic, trade and strategic relations between Israel and India? Elaborate on the areas/sectors that need more engagement?

Relations between India and Israel have been in the highest gear ever since their establishment in 1992.  Mutual civilian trade has now reached $5 billion, equally balanced, and continually expanding.  Experts believe that just a few years after the conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement negotiations which are well underway, this civilian trade will triple.  For a country the size of Israel these figures are staggering.  On the other hand, with a country the size of India, one can always forge new areas of cooperation.  We feel that the next fields we could cooperate on should be new water technologies and cooperation in the alternative and renewable energy sector.

Do you think India's strategic relations with Arab World countries are coming in the way of full-throttle Indo - Israeli relationship?

India is one of the few countries which enjoys very good relations with all parties in West Asia.  Like Israel, India does not believe that relations with one country should come at the expense of others.  This is the correct approach.

Do you think, India's practical approach to having close relations with Iran, would come in the way of furthering Israel-India strategic relations?

The Iranian people have contributed so much to world civilization and innovation throughout the centuries.  They are not people who have ever cultivated a culture of hate.  To the contrary - indeed the Jews of Iran and Persia always flourished in their interaction with their fellow Iranians.  It is therefore doubly tragic and worrisome to hear the current President of Iran promote incessant animosity and hatred, calling for Israel's destruction, and denying the Holocaust.  It goes so much against the grain of this wonderful civilization.

Of course I will not comment on the Indo-Iranian relationship.

The momentum of Israel-India relations picked up in 1998 after BJP-led NDA government came to power. Do you think the regime change in India has impacted or slowed the momentum of mutual engagements between the two countries?

Actually, the Indian-Israeli relationship started under a Congress-led government, and today it has withstood the test of time and partisanship.  The momentum remains with its high level of dynamism.

It is no secret that during Kargil war, Israel responded magnificently, despite pressure from various quarters not to supply UAVs etc. Since then Israel has become the No. 2 supplier of defence equipment to India.  Which are the new areas of defence and anti-terrorism cooperation you are looking at?

It is a matter of policy for us never to discuss in the public domain any defence relationship which may or may not exist with any country in the international arena.

Agriculture Sector is another major sector where Israel is keen on cooperating with India. What are  the innovative agri - approaches/technology (ies) that are in pipeline from Israel to India?

Just this month our Minister of Agriculture visited India and from her discussions here we have identified, inter-alia, dairy farming, post-harvest management and cold-chain technologies as the most potentially promising fields for immediate cooperation.

What is the status of Israeli investment in India and vice versa? (Kindly elaborate with sector specific statistics)?

Israel private investment in India is estimated at billions of dollars, in such diverse fields as real estate, agriculture, health care and hi-tech.  It is most certainly a two-way street and such huge conglomerations as Jain Irrigation have invested heavily in Israel.

Somali pirates have created havoc. Does Israel and India have or propose to have any direct or multilateral cooperation to fight piracy on sea?

International piracy can only be tackled through concerted international action, not alone.  We view the piracy emanating from Somalia with great concern and we are in much admiration of India's efforts to curtail it.

How do you see the recent upheaval in some of the Arab countries, particularly in Egypt impacting Israel's interests?  Kindly elaborate on the efforts of Israel to maintain peace in the middle-east region?

By nature, movement away from authoritarianism towards allowing popular expression must always be positive.  It is of course so terribly tragic to witness dictators close to their imminent ouster using lethal weaponry to murder their own populations whose only will is freedom.  The majority of the Arab world has come to terms with the need for peace with Israel.  While we have always been a democracy, I have no doubt that the new-found popular expression augurs well for peace in our region and I totally disagree with those self-styled commentators who view the change with pessimism.

The vast majority of the Arab world, from North Africa to the Gulf while naturally not a monolithic bloc, is pragmatic and forward-

looking and on both sides of the conflict we must make every effort to find equitable solutions.  Personally I have nothing but derision for those who place all blame for the conflict on Israel.  We all need to be self-critical and mud-slinging only serves to widen the psychological and political rifts.  I am convinced that democracy in the Arab world will give rise to self-examination and that we will witness a move away from the process whereby all ills in the region were summarily blamed on Israel.

Is Israel interested in a negotiated settlement to Gaza-Palestine issue? And whether India, which enjoys good relations with Israel and the Arab World countries, could be a facilitator/mediator?

I can say in no ambiguous terms whatsoever, that there is not and never will be a military solution to the conflict in West Asia.  Only a negotiated one which envisages a State of Israel living side by side with a State of Palestine.  The hurdles are enormous, yet the contours are there.  I have no doubt that the overwhelming majority of Palestinians and Israelis are ready for peace and for the compromises necessary to bring it about.  Sadly, Hamas still adheres to terrorism and Israel's annihilation.

There are already a number of mediators in the conflict and we must take care not to reach a situation whereby "too many cooks spoil the broth".  However, it is true that India has good relations with both sides and can certainly make a welcome contribution on various levels.

India like Israel has been and continues to be the victim of terrorism.  In this context how do you view the situation where a country which claims to be partner in fighting terrorism, sheltering one of the most dreaded/wanted terrorists Osama bin Laden on its own territory?

Israel has zero tolerance for terrorism and will never allow the fanatical extremists in the Middle East to win the day, for terrorism must never pay.  The plethora of statements emanating from Pakistan is most confusing, but undoubtedly the world at large is a better place now that Bin Laden is not here to continue  his frenzy of mass murder of innocent civilians.