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A few lessons from Netanyahu’s visit

Israel has survived for 70 years against odds, but we must not forget that it can’t survive without US support

A few lessons from Netanyahu’s visit


By K. Natwar Singh

Prime Minister Benjamin Natanyahu’s passage to India was quite an event. The two countries came closer, as cooperation in multiple areas deepened and broadened, especially in scientific, military, space, homeland security, and intelligence for combating terrorism. 

Israel’s achievements in the last 70 years have been remarkable. A country of over eight million people has survived for 70 years against formidable odds. At the same time we must not forget that Israel cannot survive without American support.

Israel’s arms export to India, between 2010-16 accounted for 41 per cent. China scores over us. Israel’s trade with China is three times that of India. Beijing has invested in Israeli companies, “having cutting edge technologies, especially in the agro-biotechnical segment.”

When it comes to India, securing a permanent seat at the Security Council requires votes of Islamic countries. Israel has one vote, the Muslim world, over 50. It is diplomatically smart of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to schedule a visit to Palestine early next month. The announcement of the visit was made while the Israeli Prime Minister was in New Delhi. 

One pronouncement of the Israeli Prime Minister caused me some discomfiture. “The weak don’t survive. The strong live. You make peace with the strong. Make alliance with the strong. You are able to maintain peace by being strong. Therefore, the first from the time of our first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, was to achieve maximum strength to assure our existence”. Does one have to remind the Israeli Prime Minister that the strong Adolf Hitler sent six million Jews to gas chambers? So much for the misguided doctrine of the strong. We need no such doctrine. Has Mr Nantanyahu read Gandhi? If not, he should. 

Moshe Holtzberg, 11 years old, won our hearts. He was two years when his father and pregnant mother were brutally murdered by Pakistani terrorists in November 2008. His Indian nanny, Sandra Samuel, saved him in the nick of time. Mr Netanyahu made deeply moving remarks when he went to Chabad House at Nariman Point in Mumbai on January 18. “What happened here represents the polar opposites of love and hate. The hatred perpetrated by the terrorists, but it also expressed tremendous love. The love of your parents Gabi and Rivka to you, Moshe, and the love that is expressed by the Chabad House here in Mumbai…”

* * * * * *

FOUR senior judges of the Supreme Court addressed a press conference earlier in the week to express their concern and unhappiness at the conduct of the Chief Justice. This was unprecedented. It was hoped the serious differences between the Chief Justice and the four senior judges would be sorted out soon. Regrettably, this has not happened, apparently on account of the obduracy of the Chief Justice. The four judges met the Chief Justice on Thursday “to contain the damage the institution had suffered.” They also asked the Chief Justice to publically acknowledge their grievances for transparency in allocation of cases. The Chief Justice is reported to have agreed to the former but not the latter. He must be finding himself between a rock and a hard place.

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REGARDLESS of the Supreme Court’s ruling relating to the screening of Padmaavat, the misguided fringe wallas are threatening to violate the ruling of the court. One self-appointed “leader” thundered: “We are in the court of the public. I believe court of the public is the biggest.” This is pitching it a bit high. Where, pray, does the public court sit? Do a handful of agitators represent the people of India? What would be the number of these hot heads, one million? A vast majority of Rajputs have not joined these lumpen outfits.

As directed by the court, the five concerned states should strictly and vigorously ensure that no challenge to law and order will be tolerated. Offenders should be punished. Otherwise chaos will prevail.

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