Research Information System
MIDDLE EAST POLICY, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)
India's pro-Palestinian diplomatic posture, which held for nearly 70 years, has been transformed within a single decade of rule by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), turning New Delhi into one of Israel's most consequential Asian partners. This shift has narrowed the coalition supporting the Palestinian cause. The new orientation was illustrated after the deadly October 7 attacks: The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi muted criticism of, and avoided UN resolutions to end, the Gaza war, as Israel considered replacing Palestinian workers with thousands of Indian nationals. This article argues that India's reorientation is driven by three converging forces: strategic incentives such as access to defense technology and intelligence cooperation; ideological affinities between Zionism and the Hindu nationalist ideology Hindutva; and the absence of opposition from Gulf states. This allowed New Delhi to deepen ties with Israel without jeopardizing regional partnerships. The study shows that India-Israel cooperation accelerated after the BJP came to power in 2014, soon consolidated into a strategic partnership, and influenced India's position on Israel during the post-October 7 wars.