Energy can be next frontier of India-Israel ties: Diplomat

Sandeep Dikshit
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 23

Energy could be the next frontier of India-Israel relations, said a senior Indian diplomat here on Monday.

Contracts for gas exports from the massive Israeli reserves in the eastern Mediterranean, exploring oil and gas in reserves in India, developing technologies and collaborations for renewable energy sources could be the way forward, said MEA Secretary (CPV&OIA) Sanjay Bhattacharyya, at the 13th India-Israel Forum, a Track II dialogue forum that was also addressed by Alon Ushpiz, former Ambassador of Israel to India and currently Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In an era where technology dominates, India-Israel projects can lead the way in securing new markets globally by leveraging their high-tech collaboration in defence, under Make in India, and cooperation to combat cyber crimes.

Bhattacharya also lauded the Israeli technology in water conservation and desalination which is being utilized here to bring water to Jamnagar, Chennai and Bundelkhand, to revive traditional indigenous water practices in the region and encourage new agricultural methods based on technology.

Bhattacharya also suggested that partnership in climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts will be of immense benefit to both societies.

“With the West Asia and Gulf region, we seek to supplement our strong traditional ties with an ‘ahead of the curve’ approach, which embraces technology and national priorities in a future-oriented action plan that not only strengthens relations but also refashions them and makes them relevant to the changing times,” he said.

The senior diplomat pointed out that the recent rapprochement between Arab states and Israel leading to the normalisation of relations as it could improve the region’s prospects.

“We have often said that direct negotiations between the parties can provide solutions for peaceful and secure co-existence between the two sides and also provide peace and prosperity to the citizens of two states, living side by side.”

India, he said, had maintained a principled policy of non-interference and non-partisanship, advised peaceful negotiated settlement and maintained relations with all the countries.

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