Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NEWDELHI467
2008-02-13 09:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:  

ISRAELI DCM BRIEFS DCM ON POSITIVE TREND IN

Tags:  PREL PGOV PINR TSPA MOPS IN 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000467 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR TSPA MOPS IN
SUBJECT: ISRAELI DCM BRIEFS DCM ON POSITIVE TREND IN
INDIA-ISRAEL RELATIONS, "SPY" SATELLITE

REF: A. STATE 7614

B. STATE 6152

Classified By: DCM Steven White for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000467

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR TSPA MOPS IN
SUBJECT: ISRAELI DCM BRIEFS DCM ON POSITIVE TREND IN
INDIA-ISRAEL RELATIONS, "SPY" SATELLITE

REF: A. STATE 7614

B. STATE 6152

Classified By: DCM Steven White for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) Summary. Israeli DCM Belotsercovsky told DCM recently
that he was concerned that a renewal in criticisms from the
Left and India's Muslim community could cause the Indian
government to pull back from the rapid, positive trend in
India-Israel relations. He refused to comment on allegations
by the Indian media that an Israeli satellite recently
launched by India was to spy on Asian neighbors, although he
noted that one reason India was chosen was for its experience
with low altitude radar technology. He was appreciative of
the readout of President Bush's Middle East trip, and said
that Israel welcomes the more balanced role India has played
recently in the Peace Process. End Summary.

"Many Beginnings" In Peace Process
--------------


2. (C) DCM provided Israeli Embassy DCM Eli Belotsercovsky a
readout (from reftels) of President Bush's Middle East trip
in a lunch meeting on January 25. Belotsercovsky was
grateful for the briefing and said that Israel was
"cautiously optimistic" of prospects for advancing the Peace
Process, but cautioned that it has seen "many new beginnings"
over the years. The key, Belotsercovsky reasoned, will be
for moderate Arab states to influence Hamas to become a more
responsible actor in the process.

Overall Bilateral Relations Trending Positively, But Concern
For Muslim Reaction
--------------


3. (C) Turning to the India angle, Belotsercovsky said Israel
had been pleased with the relatively balanced role that India
had played at the Annapolis conference, saying that by
choosing Science Minister Kapil Sibil to deliver a message
that praised the process and refrained from India's usual
Israel bashing, India "sent the right man to do the right
job." He praised India's $5 million commitment at the Paris
Donors' Conference, characterizing the contribution as

consistent with India's avoidance of politically sensitive
aid.


4. (C) Belotsercovsky expressed concerns for what has been a
remarkably positive trend in India-Israel relations, whereby
very public advances in bilateral ties, particularly in
defense trade, have been met with decreasing attacks from
India's Left and Muslim communities. Recently the Israeli
Embassy has been picking up signs that Muslim protests over
the India-Israel relationship have begun to rebuild, raising
concerns in Tel Aviv that pressure will build on the Indian
government to back off from the fast growing relations.
Belotsercovsky admitted Israel will likely temper the public
pace of engagement with India, although he described some new
cultural and people-to-people programs Israel is considering
for moderate Muslims in India. Despite the resistance,
Belotsercovsky said he anticipates the upward trend in
relations to continue overall, citing rapidly increasing
trade relations as an indicator. He said that Indian
interlocutors recently told an Israeli trade delegation that
Indo-Israeli trade in agriculture is "the model" of what
India hopes to do with others. He added Israel is
considering establishing an agriculture attach in India, a
sign of growth in agricultural trade between the two
countries.

No Comment On "Spy" Satellite
--------------


5. (C) In response to the DCM's query, Belotsercovsky would
not acknowledge claims that a recent Israeli satellite which

NEW DELHI 00000467 002 OF 002


India launched was a "spy" satellite, as local press had
reported. However, one of the reasons Israel had chosen
India as a launch provider was because India had experience
with low altitude, synthetic aperture radar technology,
according to Belotsercovsky. He added that that while Israel
will continue to choose American carriers, it decided to
spread the wealth a bit and chose India as a sort of reward
for the improved bilateral relationship.

Comment: On "Spy" Satellite
--------------


6. (C) Comment: Despite Belotsercovsky's avoidance of the
subject, it is widely assumed in New Delhi, and not directly
refuted by the Indian or Israeli governments, that this
satellite is designed to spy on Israel's Arab neighbors,
particularly Iran. One telling sign, according to Jawaharlal
Nehru University professor and Israel watcher PR Kumaraswamy,
was the absence of pre-launch publicity by the erstwhile
chest-thumping launch provider, the Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO). The rumor mill in Delhi has it that in
exchange for a good deal on the launch, Israel will provide
India with imagery -- reportedly with a resolution of up to
10 centimeters -- of Pakistan and China. Reaction in New
Delhi has been perhaps slightly more muted than would have
been expected, with the only vocal criticism coming from
predictable corners. Communist Party of India (Marxist)
leader Prakash Karat demanded a detailed report by the
government to parliament, saying "Any security tie-up with
Israel is against independent foreign policy." Muslim press
has also been actively criticizing the launch, framing it as
part of a "pro-Israel" policy to appease the U.S. Visiting
Delhi February 12, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman
Mohammad Ali Hosseini took a swipe at the satellite, claiming
it was deployed to spy on Iran and other Arab countries, but,
signaling that the issue will not have major ramifications
for the relationship, in the same remarks reiterated the
long-standing bilateral ties based on mutual respect.
Whether either side ever admits to the intelligence nature of
this satellite, the perception alone will test India's
otherwise productive relationship with Iran. Meanwhile, the
Ministry of External Affairs has announced plans to provide
new assistance to Palestinians in Gaza, providing cover to
assertions it is moving too far toward Tel Aviv. If the two
governments can continue to successfully manage concerns over
the growing ties which Belotsercovsky describes, we can
expect to see India-Israel relations reach a comfortable
orbit for the long-term.
WHITE