The Israel-Palestine conflict, one of the most enduring and complex international issues, continues to have significant global repercussions. This article traces the historical roots and persistent issues fueling the conflict, from the 1947 UN partition plan to the recent Israel-Hamas war of 2023. It examines India’s evolving stance, balancing its historical support for Palestine with growing diplomatic and trade ties with Israel. The analysis delves into the political, ethnic, and economic impacts on India, highlighting the effects on its Muslim and Jewish communities, international relations, and economic stability. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for peaceful resolutions and sustained international engagement to mitigate the conflict’s broader geopolitical and economic consequences.
Introduction
The main conflicts between Arab and Israeli forces in the 20th and early 21st centuries were either fought internationally or were instigated by non-Palestinian entities. The Middle East has been unstable for seven decades due to the ongoing struggle between Israelis and Palestinians, which has culminated in the current war between Israel and Hamas, which has been raging since October.
Following the catastrophic October 7 Hamas onslaught in 2023, in which Israel claims 1200 people were killed and 240 taken hostage, Israel has launched an air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip with the stated goal of eliminating Hamas.
However, the roots of the conflict itself go way back. It is considered that the conflict began when the United Nations decided in 1947 to divide the land in the British mandate of Palestine into two states: an Arab state and a Jewish state. This was done in response to the Holocaust’s murder of a large portion of Europe’s Jewish population. Neither the Arab nor the Jewish organisations approved of this plan. The British even recognised some of the organizations to be terrorists. After Israel declared independence in May 1948, the fighting between these groups and the Palestinians persisted and became more intense until the forces of Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan, and Syria intervened.
As Israel’s army grew stronger, new de facto borders were established in 1949 as part of an armistice deal, giving the fledgling Jewish state far more territory than that allocated under the UN partition plan. Today, we have a larger picture with an even more complicated present than history. With the addition of altered international relations, the conflict has risen to the point where it is contemplated that allowing it to proceed further would lead to a stronger divide across the Globe and perhaps, the conflict becoming global is not a distant thought.
This article will delve further into this topic. It will discuss the reasons and the effects the globalisation of this conflict has on India. With a larger focus on the economic impact, the article will conclude that this conflict cannot be ignored. While India may have a stance due to its own foreign policy, as the article will discuss, the furtherance of this war will leave detrimental effects in the long run.
Reasons for the Conflict
As evident from the history itself, it is not one reason that has been holding the back of this conflict for so many years. There are a number of issues on which the two sides are struggling to agree and as a result, have indulged in a violent extent:
As BBC reports, these include:
- What should happen to Palestinian refugees
- Whether Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank should stay or be removed
- Whether the two sides should share Jerusalem
- And – perhaps most tricky of all – whether a Palestinian state should be created alongside Israel.
The efforts to resolve this conflict have been many in number. The situation at the moment, however, is an example of their failures.
The Indian Take- How Far the Effects Go
India’s foreign policy has its major focus on better relations with the neighbouring countries. On that note, the impact and involvement of one of the major trade partners of India in a war will have impacted the balance of the country in various sectors. The same has been discussed as follows:
- Political
India’s position on the Israel-Palestine conflict has changed significantly over time, demonstrating a careful balancing act between developing diplomatic connections with Israel and historical support for Palestine. India has always supported Palestine for a number of reasons. Mahatma Gandhi was against the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine, and India’s sizable Muslim community contributed to his pro-Palestine stance.
Furthermore, India sought to retain positive relations with Arab nations, and in the midst of the Cold War, it sided with the Soviet Union, which provided assistance to the Arab governments. India even voted against Israel’s UN admittance and against the partition proposal for Palestine in the UN.
Nevertheless, in 1992, India and Israel established formal diplomatic ties, signalling a dramatic change in policies. India persisted in endorsing the Palestinian cause in spite of this. The choice made by Prime Minister Narasimha Rao to forge relations with Israel was an example of striking a balance between historical ties and national goals.
India and Israel have enjoyed stronger ties ever since in a number of areas, including trade, technology, agriculture, and defence. India’s current strategy entails preserving cordial ties with both Israel and Palestine while promoting discussions and negotiations as a means of resolving the conflict peacefully.
- Ethnic
The Israel-Palestine conflict has implications for India’s diverse ethnic fabric. Some key aspects of this impact are:
- Indian Muslim Community:
India’s sizable Muslim population closely observes the conflict due to historical ties with Palestine. Solidarity with Palestinian Muslims is strong, and events in the Middle East resonate within Indian Muslim communities. The conflict shapes perceptions of justice, identity, and global Muslim unity.
- Jewish Community in India:
India has a small Jewish community, primarily centred in cities like Mumbai and Kolkata. The conflict impacts Indian Jews who may have family connections to Israel or Palestine. Debates within the community reflect differing views on the conflict.
- Academic and Cultural Exchanges:
Indian universities host Israeli and Palestinian scholars, fostering academic dialogue. Cultural events, film screenings, and art exhibitions provide glimpses into both societies. These exchanges contribute to cross-cultural understanding.
- Diaspora Engagement
Indian diaspora members engage in discussions about the conflict. Social media platforms allow for diverse perspectives and debates. Diaspora voices contribute to global conversations.
- Peacebuilding Initiatives
Indian civil society organisations participate in peacebuilding efforts. Interfaith dialogues, educational programs, and humanitarian aid initiatives promote understanding. Grassroots movements emphasise shared humanity.
- International relations
As of October 27, 2023, India’s stance on the conflict has changed. In 1974, the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) was acknowledged as the exclusive and lawful representative of the Palestinian people by India, marking the first non-Arab state to do so. In 1988, India was among the initial nations to acknowledge the State of Palestine. The understanding of this impact are further understood as part of India’s stance in the UN Resolution and the G 20 Summit of 2023.
- The UN Resolution
Today India stands as one of the countries that abstained from voting on the U.N Resolution calling for a “humanitarian truce” in Gaza. Michae; Kugelam, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center think tank in Washington D.C. pointed out that India’s abstinence from the vote in the resolution is more deeply rooted in foreign policy considerations than domestic policy.
- G 20 Summit 2023
Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the follow-up virtual meeting of G 20 had the discussion taking into account the major concerns of the World. The address included comments on the Russia-Ukraine war and subsequently the Israel- Hamas war.
The G 20 emphasised that ignoring the problems out of geopolitical expediency will make them more intense than they were previously. This was made clear by the terrorist acts carried out by Hamas, which claimed the lives of 1400 Israelis. In response, Israel responded firmly and determinedly, killing over 14,000 Palestinians and bombarding Gaza, resulting in a humanitarian catastrophe.
During his remarks regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas at the G20 virtual summit, Prime Minister Modi underlined the need for a two-state solution, his support for steps to stop the conflict from getting worse, and his concerns about terrorism and human tragedy. He claimed that the G20 had come to an agreement on seven issues, one of which was that the group was willing to contribute to ending the violence. He said that there is agreement among the G20 on several issues. These included having zero tolerance for terrorism and not accepting the deaths of innocent civilians, especially women and children.
- Economic
The West Asian crisis is not having an immediate effect on India’s trade with Israel. Analysts have noted that if the conflict intensifies, it may lead to supply-side issues.
As reported by many channels, India’s exports to Israel account for 1.8% of India’s total merchandise exports led by petroleum products. Israel purchases refined petroleum products from India for between $5.5 and $6 billion. During the 2023 Financial Year (‘FY’), India’s total exports to Israel stood at $8.4 billion.
On the other hand, India imports machinery, pearls, diamonds, and other precious and semi-precious stones from Israel. In FY23, India’s imports from Israel were at $2.3 billion. It is further predicted that the direct impact of the war has triggered inflation and boiled the oil prices across the Globe.
India’s interactions with important strategic partners are impacted by the ongoing violence in India’s wider region. Most of the International relationships are built on the security of our energy, food, and health; cooperation in finance, knowledge, and advanced technology; and the mobility of our labour force for our mutual growth and prosperity.
Although the economy’s fundamentals remain solid, it is fair to predict that war-related disruptions in the oil supply and price increases could jeopardise macroeconomic stability in the short run.
Major oil and gas resources are found in the area, and we export refined hydrocarbon products to a number of nations, including Israel. The increase in energy costs has hurt the currency and widened India’s current account imbalance related to import bills. Input price increases exacerbated inflation and put strain on the fiscal balance.
Furthermore, the conflict disrupted trade and the safety of Indian sailors by resulting in ship attacks, piracy, and hostage-taking off the coasts of Yemen and the western Indian Ocean. In order to save ships and personnel, the Indian Navy conducted multiple operations. Logistics networks and economic integration have suffered as a result of rising insurance and shipping costs, longer transit times, and more unpredictability.
As a result of the conflict and Israel’s critical involvement in the project, work on the IMEEC—a future-oriented multimodal connectivity between three economic hubs—has slowed down. Nonetheless, the project’s justification is still sound, and whenever things get back to normal, work is anticipated to start.
It is expected that the war may not intensify in the long term, particularly in light of the restraint shown by Israel and Iran in their direct attacks against one another. However, it is anticipated that international investments and trade would soon reach a new standard. So far, the war has had no effect on the collaboration in high technology and innovation with Israel.
Concern has been raised about the potential effects on the Indian diaspora. The demand for Indian professionals and labourers in the Gulf, who number over nine million, has only slightly shifted as a result of the current level of conflict. In the early stages of the conflict, arrangements were made for an evacuation from Israel. Additionally, Indian soldiers sent to UNIFIL in south Lebanon were forced to relocate to Beirut.
Recently, new agreements were reached with Israel to substitute Indian labourers for Palestinian workers. Travel advisories issued as a result of the conflict’s escalation, however, may make travel difficult in the short term and raise safety concerns.
Conclusion
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict’s enduring complexities resonate globally, impacting nations like India across political, ethnic, and economic dimensions. India’s diplomatic approach reflects the delicate balance between historical ties and contemporary interests. As the conflict unfolds, maintaining stability and advocating for peaceful resolutions remain paramount. The conflict’s far-reaching effects on trade, security, and regional cooperation emphasized the need for sustained international engagement and dialogue.
