While we complained about the Raghubeer, Pundit, and Someshwar editorial criticizing Israel for opening talks with Pakistan, Ted Belman went out and got a response from one of them:
Please note that we do not object to diplomatic relations or talk or agreements. That would be foolish. All we are suggesting is that due to the sensitive nature of the relationship with India, Israel may wish to send some public signals to India that their friendship remains strong… What is important is that the sense of betrayal not be created in the minds of the average people because of the new relations with Pakistan. Indians are very sensitive and have felt very isolated.
This is a much more nuanced argument than “Israel should have to choose between India and Pakistan.” It’s even more nuanced than “Israel will anger the Indian elite by increasing relations with Pakistan” – even Raghubeer concedes that the argument actually cuts the other way, and that Israeli-Pakistani relations will push the Indian elite to increase their cooperation with Israel.
So this becomes a matter of public diplomacy – the Israeli government talking to the Indian people, and reassuring them that Israel will never work to isolate India diplomatically. That’s a fair concern and, given Israel’s abysmal international public diplomacy, probably also a valid one.
