New Delhi’s Strategic Reversal: India’s Betrayal of Palestine for Israeli Arms
India’s deepening military-industrial relationship with Israel under Prime Minister Narendra Modi represents a significant departure from its long-standing policy of supporting Palestinian liberation. This strategic realignment, often framed as a pragmatic move, ignores the ethical decay it signifies. While Western powers frequently tout their commitment to human rights, they simultaneously arm
and defend Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank, much like India is now doing. This hypocritical framework allows nations to condemn atrocities verbally while profiting from them materially. Historically, India was a steadfast supporter of the Palestinian cause, recognizing the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1974 as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, a
full decade before the United States. This commitment was rooted in India's own anti-colonial struggle and its leadership in the Non-Aligned Movement. However, under Modi, this principle has been systematically dismantled. The military aspect is particularly stark: Israel has become India's third-largest arms supplier, with annual defense trade exceeding $1 billion, providing advanced surveillance
technology and weaponry that is tested and perfected on Palestinian bodies. This economic entanglement creates a powerful disincentive for India to criticize Israeli aggression, effectively buying its silence and complicity. This shift from principled solidarity to transactional self-interest exposes a profound moral capitulation. The justification often hinges on counter-terrorism cooperation, a