De-hyphenation is the greatest outcome of the PM Modi-Benjamin Netanyahu honhomie

Those who worked assiduously behind the curtains to inject political content into the India-Israel relations believe that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, have succeeded in incorporating new elements to transform relations from a mere 'G to G' (government to government) to 'P to P' (people to people) and 'B to B' (business to business). Interpreting Netanyahu's statement that while both countries had diplomatic relations over the past 25 years, something new was happening under the Modi government, Associate Executive Director of American Jewish Council (AJC) for International Affairs Jason Isaacson told DNA that relations were more focused on security exchanges, rather transforming lives of a common man.

The influential AJC is credited with having worked behind the scenes in Washington to realise the framework of the India-US civilian nuclear deal that came up in July 2005, ending 30 years of US-imposed sanctions since India had tested its first nuclear weapon in 1974. Jason maintains that while he has found a bi-partisan support for relations with Israel in India, the one thing that makes Modi's understanding different is that he has taken the relationship to areas to the interests of farmers to decrease their output costs and increase productions—thereby their incomes.

During talks held on Monday, Netanyahu presented ideas of revolutionizing Indian agriculture. He called it a precision agriculture that goes down to the individual farmer and his produce. He said his country has big data on farmers and plants to understand needs at micro-level. "Some plants need more water, some less. We can see it today with big data, with drones, with other instruments of technology to make farmers produce much more crops. More crops with less," he was quoted as saying at the delegation level talks.

Isaacson said, back in 2006, when Modi had visited Israel; he had recognised the Jewish state as a start-up nation that had made significant progress in agriculture. He believed that a restraint held in the past by the Indian government has been broken and with old new spirit to turn the page. Admitting that there was disappointment in Israel and in Jewish community, when India voted against the US decision to shift capital to Jerusalem, Isaacson, who was official observer to the 1991-92 Middle East peace talks held in Madrid, Moscow and Washington said it was soon realised that India has many more interests and the vote should not be allowed to cloud the overall relationship. He said by actions India is already recognising Jerusalem as capital of Israel. "By deeds he (Modi) has been recognising Jerusalem as capital of Israel. Indian leaders conduct meetings with Israeli officials in Jerusalem, whenever, they visit," he added.

Rejecting the idea that Israel was desperate to tie up with India in order to end its global isolation, the AJC official counted that Jewish nation was now gaining recognition and respect even amongst many pragmatic Aran nations as well. He said there was writing on the wall, which India has read well.

Diplomats here also said that Modi's gestures towards Netanyahu were meant to show the public – including the bureaucracy the very close ties developed between the countries and there was no going back. "While Pakistan and China may be enemies for India, for Israel China is largest trading partner. So is with Iran, which is threat to Israel, but a strategic friend of India. India also has historical relationship with Palestine," they said, refusing to be identified. "De-hyphenation of relations is the greatest thing, Modi and Netanyahu has brought to table over past few years," he concluded.