India’s arms sales to Israel: Bad legally, worse ethically—Part 4
India–Israel arms relations: Deep and dangerous for Indian democracy
Ravi Nair·October 8, 2024
The final part of the four-part deep-dive into the recent case before the Supreme Court of India calling for a halt to arms sale to Israel as it commits genocide against the Palestinians.
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Read Part 1 here.
Read Part 2 here.
Read Part 3 here.
IN the history of Indian bilateral defence cooperation with other countries since Independence, our armed forces had and continue to have good relations with some dodgy undemocratic partners.
The most egregious of them in the past was Saddam’s Iraq, which just gassed the inhabitants of Halabja and inflicted regular pogroms on the Marsh Arabs and the Kurds.
Nearer home, to name just one, is the so-called pragmatic relationship with the Tatmadaw, the Myanmar military junta, that leaves a trail of death, rapine and pillage across the non-Burman ethnic areas.
However, the depth and intensity of the relationship with Netanyahu’s Israel bodes ill for the tottering pillars of Indian democracy already being shaken by Hindutva— akin to Zionism— and not only for the exclusionary worldview.
Starting with Narasimha Rao, a former prime minister who got us on the road to the muscular Hindutva security State, we have come a long way.
Israel telling the secretary general of the UN that he is not welcome in the country and yet be considered democratic by many Western capitals and multilateral organisations is stretching incredulity far beyond breaking point.
The Indian security State has cosied up with such worthies as Myanmar and Israel since 1992. An Israel that bombs Gaza in a manner that makes the London Blitz, and the fire-bombing of Dresden and Tokyo during the Second World War passé.
An Israel that thinks that the resolutions of the United Nations on the Occupation are to be scoffed at, even the minimalist Oslo Accords to be violated with impunity, the International Court of Justice to be dismissed and the secretary general of the United Nations be told that he is not welcome in Israel and yet be considered as democratic by many Western capitals and multilateral organisations is stretching incredulity far beyond breaking point.
A ready reckoner of the India-Israel defence relationship
It is useful to do a quick ready reckoner of the depth of India’s defence relationship with Israel. Were Israel a democratic country, it would be kosher. Anyone claiming today’s Israel is democratic is a fit candidate for Bedlam.
Also read: In the Gaza genocide, UN has suffered an irreparable loss of reputation
India is the world’s largest weapons importer by value, accounting for 10 percent of global arms imports from 2008 to 2023. New Delhi is expected to spend at least US $200 billion in the coming decade to modernise its armed forces.
India’s current defence arsenal is heavily stocked with Russian-supplied equipment. Since 2008, about 62 percent of India’s defence imports (by value) have come from Russia; other top suppliers include France (11 percent), the United States (10 percent) and Israel (7 percent).
India’s imports from Israel
India imported military hardware worth US $2.9 billion from Israel over the last decade, including radars, surveillance and combat drones, and missiles.
Israel’s Elbit Systems partners with Indian conglomerate Adani group to manufacture some of its Hermes900 drones at a facility in southern India, which are exported back to Israel for its use.
The remnants of an Indian drone or projectile were found in Gaza. What is of even more concern is that these armaments are being used in what India, at least on paper, considers Occupied Territories.
In September 2024, India for the first time abstained from voting for the UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution calling on Israel to vacate the Occupied Territories.
While importing huge amounts of armaments from Israel, we have also exported a fraction of the quantum of the imports (see chart below):
The Indian ministry of defence’s annual reports are indicative of the depth of the relations with Israel in the area of defence cooperation.
2000–04
Yedidia Ya’ari, the then commander of the Israeli Navy (2000–04) visited India in December 2002. Israel, among other countries, set up its national pavilion in the International Land and Naval Systems Exhibition in Defexpo India in 2002.
India is the world’s largest weapons importer by value, accounting for 10 percent of global arms imports from 2008 to 2023.
More importantly, the first meeting of the Joint India–Israel Working Group on Defence Cooperation, held in Israel in September 2002, solidified defence relations between the two countries.
Also read: The UNHRC concluding observations do not allow for semantics
In the Annual Report for 2003–04, Indo–Israeli staff talks took place in New Delhi from December 15–18, 2003. A memorandum of principles and order of cooperation on Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) was signed by the governments of India, Israel and the Russian Federation on October 10, 2003.
An Inter-Government Agreement (IGA) was concluded with Israel on March 3, 2004, followed by a contract with M/s IAD Elta System to acquire AWACS aircraft.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited achieved exports of ₹215.21 crore for the financial year 2003–04. A memorandum of understanding was signed with IAI, Israel for joint marketing of advanced light helicopter (ALH) fitted with state-of-the-art Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) avionics for the international market.
As part of India strengthening its defence relations internationally— the India–Israel Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation was set up in December 2003. There were visits by Israeli service chiefs and chiefs of the army in November 2003, and chiefs of the air force in February–March 2004.
Navy to navy meetings to discuss joint exercises and activities, or meetings of an operational nature were also held with Israel. The second meeting of the India-Israel Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation was held in India in December 2003.
Israel was well represented at the DEFEXPO 2004 defence industry exhibition with a delegation headed by Israeli Deputy Defence Minister, Ze’er Boim.
From India, the chief of air staff visited Israel in September 2004. In December 2004, the third meeting of the India–Israel Joint Working Group on Defence was held in Tel Aviv. It was headed by the director general of the Israeli ministry of defence.
Four ships of the Western Fleet, namely, Mysore, Godavari, Ganga and Shakti, were deployed to the Gulf of Aden and Mediterranean Sea on overseas deployment. During the deployment, the ships visited ports in Israel.
Demonstration firing of artillery ammunition was conducted successfully at Pokhran in June 2004. The ammunition has been manufactured under a memorandum of understanding with Israel Military Industries, Israel, at the Ordnance Factory Chandrapur (OFCH), Ordnance Factory Ambajhari (OFAJ) and Ordnance Factory Kanpur (OFC).
There was also a bilateral institution building, with meetings at Begin-Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies (Israel).
Joint development projects between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Israel and the Indian navy to develop a highly sophisticated long-range surface-to-air missile system is in progress.
2007–08
The AWACS were procured from Israel to meet the long-felt need of the Indian Air Force (IAF). It was a joint development programme of DRDO, the Indian navy and IAI, Israel. The AWACS have a range of 70 km using a dual-pulse rocket motor and active radar seeker in the terminal phase and inertial and mid-course update for guidance. A strategic test of a two-proof motor has been completed successfully.
DRDO has agreements with many countries for collaboration in the field of defence technologies, including Israel. The Indo-Israel managing committee is being organised regularly.
In September 2024, India for the first time abstained from voting for the UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution calling on Israel to vacate the Occupied Territories.
Defence relations with Israel continued to be cordial and mutually beneficial. Yecheil Horev, director of security of defence establishment and senior deputy director general, Israel, visited India in June 2007. Major General (Retired) Yosi Ben Hanan, director SIBAT during July 23–25, 2007 and chief of staff of Israel navy vice admiral David Ben Bashat during August 26–29, 2007 visited India.
An Israeli delegation led by B.G. Pinchas Buchris, director general, ministry of defence, Israel visited India from December 30, 2007 to January 1, 2008 to participate in the sixth meeting of the India–Israel Joint Working Group (JWG).
The fifth round of navy to navy staff talks were held in Tel Aviv in October 2007. Second air force staff talks were held in New Delhi on January 15–16, 2007. Third round of army to army staff talks were conducted in India from November 26–29, 2007.
2008–09
The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) successfully demonstrated the indigenous 130 mm cargo ammunition produced by them in technical collaboration with IMI, Israel. Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) exported the Infrared Radiation Interference Indicators (IRII) worth US $1,57,000 to Electro-Optics Industries (ELOP), Israel during the year 2007–08.
Also read: India arms exports: A protection of civilians lens is required
Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM), a joint development programme of DRDO, Indian Navy and IAI, Israel, took off. There was also joint development between India and Israel of a dual-colour missile approach warning system. Another joint development programme was the Trajectory Correction System (TCS) for Pinaka (Phase I) between DRDO and IMI, Israel.
Amir Kain, head of director of the security of defence establishment (DSDE) (MALMAB) led a delegation to India during July 21–23, 2008. Major general (retired) Ehud Shani, head of defence export and cooperation department (SIBAT), Israel visited India and held meetings with senior officers on December 8, 2008. India’s secretary (defence production) led a delegation to Israel in September 2008.
India and Israel set up a Sub Group on Defence Procurement, Production and Development to promote cooperation. This sub-group is co-chaired on the Indian side by the director general (acquisition).
The second meeting of this sub-group was held in New Delhi on February 13–14, 2008, while its third meeting was held in Tel Aviv on September 21–23, 2008.
Indian defence secretary led a delegation to Israel to attend the seventh meeting of the India–Israel Joint Working Group on November 12, 2008.
2009–10
The Indian army and navy signed an annual joint maintenance contract for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of five years with IAI, Israel. The Indian navy undertook passage exercises with Israel.
The chief of army staff (COAS) of India visited Israel on November 8–10, 2009. The fourth air force to air force staff talks were held on November 17, 2009. The fourth India–Israel Sub Working Group met on December 21, 2009. The eighth India–Israel Joint Working Group meeting was held on December 22, 2009.
2010–11
The IAF contracted 15 Low-Level Light Weight Radar (LLLWR) from Israel. The first ballistic control flight test was successfully conducted in Israel. Vice admiral Eliezer Marom, commander-in-chief of the Israeli navy, visited India on January 18–21, 2010.
Major general (retired) Edud Shani, director general of the Israeli ministry of defence, visited India again from February 15-18, 2010. S.K. Sharma, director general (acquisition), visited Israel to co-chair the fifth India–Israel Sub Working Group on May 2, 2010. On November 1-3, 2010, the fifth air force to air force staff talks were held in Tel Aviv.
As part of India strengthening its defence relations internationally— the India–Israel Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation was set up in December 2003.
The Indian ministry of defence procured an aerial reconnaissance system costing ₹641 crore from M/s IAI Elta, Israel without fully evaluating the system as per the defence procurement procedure. Despite spending ₹611 crore and the delay of over one year, the system is yet to be proven.
2011–12
Navy to navy level interaction and staff talks were held between India and Israel. BDL was nominated as the missile integrator for the LR-SAM missile— which was being developed jointly by DRDO and M/s IAI, Israel— for the Indian navy.
DRDO and IAI, Israel started a joint development programme on Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MR-SAM).
MR-SAM is a joint development programme of DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel for the Indian navy. It uses a dual-pulse rocket motor and active radar seeker in the terminal phase and inertial/mid-course update for guidance.
The weapon system would provide a point and area defence for three P15A ships of the Indian navy against a vast variety of aerial threats including fighter aircraft, subsonic and supersonic missiles, etc.
On January 11, 2011, the sixth meeting of the India–Israel Sub Working Group on Defence Procurement, Production and Development took place.
Between January 31, 2011 and February 2, 2011, the seventh navy to navy staff talks were held in Israel. On May 15, 2011, the ninth meeting of the India–Israel Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation was held in Tel Aviv. On November 21–24, 2011, the chief of the Israeli air force visited India.
2013–14
Navy–to–navy level interaction and staff talks between India and Israel were held again. IAF procured SPYDER Low Level Quick Reaction Missile System for the protection of high-value assets (HVAs).
The contract for purchase was signed with M/s Rafael, Israel. Major export destinations for defence products have been Israel, along with other countries. There was a joint development programme between DRDO and the ministry of defence, Israel on an advanced electronic warfare suite for light combat aircraft. In 2013, DRDO held bilateral meetings with Israel.
On January 20–23, the India chief of air staff visited Israel. On May 20, 2013, major general Guy Zur, chief of ground forces, Israeli defence forces, visited India. On March 11, 2014, army to army, navy to navy and air force to air force staff talks were held in Israel.
Also read: UNHRC’s examination of India’s periodic report after 28 years: Part 8
On March 18–21, 2014, the Indian chief of army staff visited Israel. In February 2014, major general Dan Harel, director general, the Israeli ministry of defence, visited India.
2014–15
IAF procured a SPYDER Missile System from M/s Rafael, Israel. On November 10, 2014, LRSAM was successfully tested against a flying target at a range in Israel.
Designs of the various sub-systems and major elements on MR-SAM— a joint development programme of DRDO, IAF and IAI, Israel— with a range of 70 km, were completed. All MR-SAM functional prototypes were delivered and integrated at IAI, Israel.
Under a joint development programme between DRDO, MoD Israel and M/s Elisra, Israel, development, integration and evaluation of UEWS, which is an integrated radar warner and jammer (RWJ) system started.
Since 2008, about 62 percent of India’s defence imports (by value) have come from Russia; other top suppliers include France (11 percent), the United States (10 percent) and Israel (7 percent).
DRDO, along with the joint partner M/s Elisra, Israel started designing and developing a Dual Colour Missile Approach Warning System (DCMAWS) for Su-30 MKI aircraft.
DRDO held bilateral defence research and development meetings with Israel. On June 30, 2014, the eleventh meeting of the Israel–India Joint Working Group was held in Tel Aviv. The defence minister of Israel, Moshe (Bogie) Ya’alon, visited Aero India in 2015 in Bengaluru. He also met Prime Minister Modi.
2015–16
Medium power radars from Israel began to replace 1980s technology in India. On August 11–13, 2015, the eighth air staff talks between India and Israel were held in New Delhi.
From November 30 to December 3, 2015, the commander of the Israeli air and space forces visited India. On February 17–18, 2016, the director general of the Israeli defence ministry Dan Harel visited India. In March 2016, the Indian chief of air staff visited Israel.
2016–17
The Indian navy held staff talks on maritime cooperation and bilateral issues with Israel. Repair and overhaul projects regarding Su30-MKI, MG-21 BISON, Mig-27 aircraft, Jaguar, Kiran jet trainer, Mirage 2000 aircraft, Dornier (DO-228) and Avro (HS748) aircraft were undertaken.
Also read: The brutality in Gaza rekindles the horrible memories of women in war
Depot-level maintenance of UAV engines under the transfer of technology from IAI Malat, Israel was also undertaken. On July 13, 2016, the twelfth meeting of the Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation was held. In April 2016 the ninth India–Israel army staff talks were held in New Delhi.
2017–18
The army chief of Israel visited India. Indian navy western fleet ships Mumbai Trishul and Aditya proceeded on an overseas deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean in April–May 2017 and made port calls at Haifa (Israel).
The Indian navy has been engaging with various friendly foreign navies to conclude and sign agreements for the exchange of white shipping information. White shipping information is the exchange of information about the movement and identity of non-military commercial vessels. White shipping agreements have been signed with 13 countries, including Israel.
A contingent of the Indian army participated in Haifa Day Centenary on September 6, 2018, at Haifa, Israel, marking the liberation of Haifa from Ottoman Rule, thanks largely to a daring cavalry charge of Indian colonial troops acting in the service of British Imperialism.
On April 25–26, 2017, the thirteenth meeting of the bilateral Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation was held in Israel. On June 12–15, 2017, the chief of staff committee and chief of naval staff of Israel visited India.
From October 29–November 2, 2017, the chief of ground forces, Israel visited India. On November 5–16, 2017, India participated in the multilateral exercise blue flag held in Israel. On July 3, 2017, to commemorate 25 years of diplomatic relations between India and Israel, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses |(IDSA) organised a roundtable discussion on the special issue of strategic analysis ‘India–Israel Relations at 25’.
A contingent of the Indian army participated in Haifa Day Centenary on September 6, 2018, at Haifa, Israel. The day marks the liberation of Haifa from Ottoman Rule, thanks largely to a daring cavalry charge of Indian colonial troops acting in the service of British Imperialism.
IAF procured the SPYDER LLQRM systems from Israel. On July 8-12, 2018, there was a meeting to explore the possibilities for cooperation in the domain of coastal security between the Israeli navy and the Indian coast guard.
On May 22–24, 2018, a delegation led by the chief of air staff visited Israel. On July 2–3, 2018, the fourteenth Joint Working Group meeting with Israel was held in New Delhi. On March 26–28, annual staff talks between army, navy and air forces of the two countries took place. On March 10–14, 2019, a delegation led by the commander of the Israel Air Force visited India.
Also read: Interview with Adila Hassim, counsel for South Africa versus Israel before the ICJ
In March 2009, OFB concluded a contract with M/s Israel Military Industries (IMI), Israel for the supply of a manufacturing plant of Bi-Modular Charge System (BMCS) for Ordnance Factory Nalanda. However, the contract was put on hold by the Indian ministry of defence in June 2009 due to illegal gratification by M/s IMI Israel and the contract was finally cancelled in March 2012. Arms Contract corruption needs a major review
There has also been a delay in development and failure in meeting the user requirements of unmanned aerial vehicles that were introduced in the Indian army in 1998 through the import of Searcher Mark-I from Israel.
2019–20
On August 16–19, 2019, a delegation led by the commander of the Israel Air Force visited India. On November 11–13, 2019, the eleventh army to army staff talks between India and Israel were held in New Delhi. International Defence and Security Exhibition (ISDEF), 2019 was held on June 4–6, 2019 in Tel Aviv, Israel. From India, Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE), Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) participated.
2020
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh had a telephonic conversation with defence minister of Israel Lieutenant General Benjamin Gantz on July 24, 2020. Both ministers expressed satisfaction at the progress of strategic cooperation between the two countries and discussed possibilities of further strengthening the defence engagements.
They also expressed satisfaction at the ongoing collaboration in research and development in fighting COVID-19 pandemic which will not only benefit the two countries but also aid the larger humanitarian cause.
NSO says it sells its technologies solely to law enforcement and intelligence agencies of ‘vetted governments’ for the sole purpose of saving lives and preventing criminal and terror acts.
India’s defence minister also invited greater participation of Israeli defence companies under the new liberalised foreign direct investment (FDI) regime in defence manufacturing. The final production batch of MR-SAM for the Indian navy (LRSAM) was flagged off in February 2021.
2021–22
The eleventh India–Israel air staff talks were held virtually on June 10, 2021. The chief of air staff visited Israel from August 2–5, 2021.
The fifth meeting of the Joint Working Group on Military Cooperation between India and Israel, co-chaired by the defence secretary, was held on October 26–27 2021 in Israel. IAF participated in the Exercise Blue Flag held in Israel from October 10–28, 2021.
Also read: Labour export to Israel circumvents India’s safety protocol
Not surprisingly, there is no mention of Israel in the annual report for 2023.
A few concerns
Export licences
There is no information in the public domain as to whether any of the export licences from India have any conditionality against usage against civilians in combat zones.
Pegasus and illegal surveillance
Former member of Parliament from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), K.K. Ragesh posed a number of pointed questions to the government: How did the Pegasus spyware come to India? Why were people “fighting against the government” targeted? How can one believe that the government has no role to play in bringing the software for snooping on political leaders in the country?
Niv, Shalev and Omri Group Technologies (NSO), an Israeli company, claims it sells its technologies solely to law enforcement and intelligence agencies of ‘vetted governments’ for the sole purpose of saving lives and preventing criminal and terror acts.
Fate of Indian workers in West Asia
What happens if there is an all-out war in the next few weeks in West Asia? Is India prepared for the return of the nine million Indian workers in the region? Workers’ remittances are the largest constituent of current receipts after merchandise exports and finance— more than 15 percent of current payments since 2001.
Has the Indian government stipulated in the contracts of Indian workers going to Israel that they will not be used for work in the Occupied Territories— particularly in the building of the illegal settlements there?
Has the Indian government stipulated in the contracts of Indian workers going to Israel that they will not be used for work in the Occupied Territories— particularly in the building of the illegal settlements there?
UNFIL
Has the Indian government directly or through the UN sought assurances for the safety of Indian contingents posted as part of United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNFIL) in Lebanon and the Golan Heights on the Israeli-Syrian border? This is no idle fear as the Irish contingent has received warnings from Israel to move away from the area.
Intelligence cooperation
There has been much covert cooperation between India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and Mossad. Both spook organisations are not under the control of their respective Parliaments as in more mature democracies. Little information is available in the public domain about their modus operandi.
Kashmir
Israeli drones are used in Kashmir (one unmanned aerial vehicle called the Heron was specially adapted for such use). Indian forces used Israeli Tavor rifles in 2008, used Spice-2000 guidance technology in the aftermath of the Pulwama attacks in Kashmir in 2019, and bought Pegasus from Israel that same year.
Israeli diplomats have been visiting Kashmir regularly. More troubling is the alleged presence of Israeli Intelligence operatives during interrogations of those detained in the Valley.
However, the greatest concern is the total disregard for the laws of war by the Israeli army. It has put the clock backward on humanitarian law since Grotius or earlier.
Conclusion
Given the depth and breadth of Indo-Israeli cooperation outlined above, nothing short of a major political upheaval and a sea change in public opinion in India is going to substantially alter matters.
The reference here is that a mere change of hats between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the INDIA will be Tweedledum and Tweedledee. The level of cooperation also exposes all non-BJP parties and forces for not having comprehensively debated these issues in Parliament and the public domain.
Israeli diplomats have been visiting Kashmir regularly. More troubling is the alleged presence of Israeli Intelligence operatives during interrogations of those detained in the Valley.
Civil society and secular society efforts at solidarity with Palestine have been vacuous, to say the least in India. They have not been able to mount an effective boycott or disinvestment policy against Indian and international entities aiding and abetting Israel!
We are dealing with the sons and daughters of Moloch, not Abraham.
Read Part 1 here.
Read Part 2 here.
Read Part 3 here.
The writer is the executive director, South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre.