USA and Israel: Echo in India: Why?

India and Israel have so many things in common. Both are liberal, democratic countries, got freedom at almost the same time. Both have hostile neighbours and have fought war against them successfully. Both have govt led by right of the centre party in power with very strong leaders. Netanyahu is not ready to listen to Biden on issues concerning the existential threat to USA. Modi is also advocating strategic autonomy for India. Both are locking horns with USA on critical issues while they continue to be allies or strategic partners of USA. While India has antagonised European nations more, Netanyahu is more focused on USA and Biden on matters concerning autonomy and decision making of Israeli govt.

 

 

Executive and Judiciary have a clearly defined roles in any democratic and liberal country. Dictatorship or military rules do not give them much room to operate so in those countries you will not see much problem. Israel always had a strong judiciary; judges they appoint themselves and can declare any law passed by Knesset unconstitutional with no remedy available to legislature. So, what are the reforms and why the present dispensation wants to bring judicial reforms at this point of time. Two things, proposed judicial reforms will see a nine-member committee with broad representation to appoint judges and secondly legislature will have the power to re- legislate any law declared unconstitutional by Supreme Court and it will not have any power to declare two-time legislated law as unconstitutional. Second issue is related with West bank resettlement of Jews which has attracted global scrutiny and probably legal battle will ensue in this issue which Netanyahu wants to win. Same reforms could have gone unnoticed or not attempted under a leftist govt. However, Netanyahu govt takes an overtly aggressive and nationalist stance on all these issues.

 

No party in Israel can take liberty with any national issue which deals with existential threat to Israel. So, why all these issues now? How judicial reforms are related with Arabs, middle east nations, govt officials and even reservists? How USA is concerned with domestic issues of Israel, a strong ally of USA in middle east. So, why this big agitation in Israel. A country of approx. 10 million, how come half a million on roads? Do you think all of them understand the real issues? Not more than one percent will understand, rest will just follow. This is the power of social media and narratives.

 

 

 

 

So, let us be very clear about USA and its interest? Why USA wants liberal democracy as its allies? Reason is very simple, state institutions can be easily subverted, influenced and made pliable as per the interest of USA. Strong govt will not give that elbow room to CIA or Victoria Nuland. Dictatorship, in any case will not allow manipulative CIA to operate. Netanyahu is too strong to be manipulated easily unless Israel own interest are aligned. USA needs support of Israel and Arabs together and more of Abraham accords. Saudi Arabia wants nuclear programme for itself before it concedes on that account. Israeli veto on that has not been taken kindly. Is the normal public is affected by judicial reforms? Not really? Here comes the question of setting the narrative. If existential threat to Israel can be down played and public can be convinced that it does not exist, public will be more than happy to see a performing left govt in power in Israel. Can it be convinced accordingly.

 

 

 

Incidentally, these agitations are issue neutral. It can be anti CAA agitation or farms agitation in India? Did the participants were really affected in real sense. Professionals are hired for smooth organisation of agitation. What issue they are looking for in India? Rahul Gandhi has lost his seat in Lok Sabha? Do you hear that he has lost it due to his foolishness? He has gone and spoken against Indian democracy. What about the corruption charges and use of CBI and ED against opposition leaders? Have no doubt that more and more opposition leaders will be in the net, Modi will certainly do that in this year as per his planning and smooth execution capability.

 

So, Hindenburg has gone and Adani still floating …Rahul Gandhi fighting his legal battle on political turf ...have no doubt that professionals are at work to find out what can be done to Modi? Unfortunately for them, the so-called tussle between govt and Judiciary will not convert in confrontation because govt is too smart and ignore so many nuggets of SC. They will never allow the SC to play the ball on the side of opposition, notwithstanding the desire of so many of opposition leaders.

 

Let us come to Israel now. What is the perception of Israelis about their own state? Is it a state for Jews or a nation state where all the communities stay together in a liberal democratic way of life. Here, perception with USA differs. So, many in USA believes that it is a nation state and it should behave like one. Resettlement of Jews on west bank for them is not a major issue but for conservative Jews it is a major issue related with survival of Jew state. Resettlement on west bank by a leftist govt is either lacklustre arrangement and it does not attract any global scrutiny. All the Arab nations look at the issue with apartheid and racial discrimination while none of them follow democracy and human rights violation are rampant in their own countries. In Israel as per the law there is no discrimination and Arabs enjoy equal freedom. Of course, Israel does worry about increasing Arab population inside Israel.

 

Let us come to India now. Who participated in anti CAA agitations? Were they affected themselves? All those who were against govt participated in this agitation. Same crowd was seen during anti farm laws agitation. Same crowd was seen during so called Bharat Jodo Yatra of Rahul Gandhi? All the events were organised with professional organisation excellence. Who did that?

 

So, if the USA is not worried about Israel as a Jewish state, should it really worry about Hindus who are looking back at their civilisation for solace and pride? A big nation like India troubles USA more if a nationalist govt stays in power in Delhi and talks about strategic autonomy. Why should European nations approve of India’s purchase of Russian oil while they are facing inflation and importing costly oil from international market.

 

 

 

 

 

No body likes the strong govts whether it is Netanyahu or Modi. While state to state relations remain stable due to compulsions of mutual interest, have no doubt that CIA / Soros and so many like Hindenburg are very active against India. Though India finds itself in strong position but public support to Modi is the key.