Ministry of External Affairs

Contact us

Home

Embassy of India

Tel Aviv

image001

Ambassador

Embassy

Passport

Visa

Schemes & Scholarships

Gallery

GoI Links

India-Israel Relations

 

India-Israel bilateral relations

 

india_israel_flag.jpg

 

Political Relations

On September 17, 1950, India announced recognition of Israel. Ben Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, held Mahatma Gandhi in high esteem. Soon after India’s recognition of Israel, the Jewish Agency established an immigration office in Bombay. This was soon converted into a Trade Office and later a Consulate. Sporadic governmental contacts continued between India and Israel in the fifties and early sixties, including visits by former Minister Rajkumari Amrit Kaur and Israeli Ministers like Yigal Allon, Moshe Sharett and Gideon Rafael. Following decision to establish diplomatic relations, Israel opened its Embassy in Delhi in February 1992 and India opened its Embassy in Tel Aviv on 15 May 1992. Since then relations have seen rapid growth across a broad spectrum.

 

Bilateral Visits

Since the establishment of Embassies, a large number of ministerial visits have taken place. The period since 1992 has been utilized to put in place the framework of normal state-to-state relations, including agreements and MOUs in diverse areas of cooperation. Click here for a list of bilateral agreements and high level visits.

 

Bilateral institutional mechanisms include Foreign Office Consultations; Strategic dialogue between NSAs; JWG on Counter-Terrorism and Non Proliferation Dialogue; JWG on Defence Cooperation; JWG on Trade and Economic cooperation; Joint Committee on Agriculture Economic and commercial relations.

 

Bilateral Trade

India-Israel bilateral trade and economic relations are progressing steadily. From a base of US$ 200 million comprising primarily of diamonds in 1992, merchandise trade has diversified and increased rapidly, reaching US$ 4747.10 million at the end of 2010. Click here for more details relating to Trade and commerce.

 

Training Programs

The Israeli MFA’s Centre for International Cooperation (MASHAV) has conducted activities in diverse fields with India. These include courses in various fields in Israel as well as in India, including health, agriculture, education and management. The Horticultural Demonstration Farm at IARI Research Institute in PUSA, New Delhi was a result of technical cooperation between the two countries.

 

Culture & Tourism

India is known in Israel as an ancient nation with strong cultural traditions, and in popular Israeli perception India is an attractive, alternative tourist destination. Israeli youth are particularly attracted to India. About 35,000 Israelis, mostly youth, after finishing military service, visit India annually. The level of understanding of and knowledge about India is growing, in some measure as a result of India's economic advancement and image as an important centre for hi-tech as well as the contribution of individuals like Zubin Mehta. The number of pilgrims and tourists from India visiting Israel is also increasing every year.

 

LIST OF BILATERAL AGREEMENTS

 

Bilateral agreements

Agreement Date

Establishment of Full Bilateral Diplomatic Relations

29.01.1992

Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investments

29.01.1996

Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and for the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital

29.01.1996

Bilateral Agreement regarding Mutual Assistance and Cooperation in Customs matters

29.01.1996

Agreement on Cooperation in Peace Uses of Outer Space

28.10.2002

Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine

09.09.2003

Agreement on Cooperation in combating illicit trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances

09.09.2003

Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Protection of the Environment

09.09.2003

Agreement on Exemption of Visa requirement for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports

09.09.2003

Memorandum of Understanding on India-Israeli Research and Development Fund Initiative

30.05.2005

Inter Governmental Work Plan on Agriculture Cooperation

10.05.2006

 

Back to top

 

LIST OF BILATERAL VISITS

 

From Israel

Visiting Delegate

Date of visit

FM Shimon Peres

May 1993

President Ezer Weizmann

Jan 1997

FM Shimon Peres

Jan 2002

PM Ariel Sharon

Sep 2003

DPM and FM Silvan Shalom

Feb 2004

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Industry and Labour Eliyahu Yishai

December 2006

Minister of Transport and Road Safety Shaul Mofaz

March 2007

Minister of Interior Meir Sheetrit

November 2007

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Shalom Simon

January 2008

Minister of Industry, Trade and Labour Binyamin Ben Eliezer

January 2010

Minister of Agriculture Orit Noked

May 2011

 

From India

Visiting Delegate

Date of visit

Home Minister LK Advani

June 2000

EAM Jaswant Singh

July 2000

MOS (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Shri Kapil Sibal

May 2005

MOS for Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja

September 2005

Agriculture Minister Shri Sharad Pawar

November 2005

May 2006

Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath

November 2005

MOS for Industry Ashwani Kumar

August 2007

MOS for Railways R. Velu

December 2007

Former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

February 2008

Chief Justice of Supreme Court Shri K. G. Balakrishnan

December 2008

Chief Minister of Punjab Shri Parkash Singh Badal and Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Shri Prem Kumar Dhumal

November 2009

Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia

February 2010

Minister of State Science & Technology Shri Prithviraj Chavan

March 2010

Several Members of Parliament

July 2010

Comptroller and Auditor General Shri Vinod Rai

May 2011

Minister of State for Communications and IT Mr. Sachin Pilot

May 2011

Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda

April 2011

 

Please click here for a detailed brief  on the Bilateral relations

 

Back to top

 

Trade & Commerce

Indian Community in Israel

India Tourism

Events and Speeches

Publications

Feedback

Sitemap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Website designed and managed by Information Wing, Embassy of India.

External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein.