Will India finally take the plunge and conclude a strategic alliance with Israel at the cost of its relationship with the Arabs?

Indian officials vehemently deny any such suggestion. Whenever the subject is broached in our discussions with Indian officials, their reaction is quite furious. They say that we, the Arabs, hate them and support Pakistan.

In fact, this is an artful method of avoiding the truth or a way to divert the discussion from the subject.

The latest news aired by the media suggests that the Indian-Israeli cooperation is taking shape in many aspects.

The authoritative British publication on defense and strategic matters, Jane’s Defense Weekly, in a recent issue has given some insight into the developing alliance between India and Israel. An article from Jane’s Terrorism & Security Monitor, in its edition of Aug. 14, focuses attention on Israel’s increasing role in “counterterrorism” in India in general and the Kashmir region in specific.

Indian officials, however, have many justifications for the Indian-Israeli cooperation. But any person concerned with such an approach would not accept such justifications, for many reasons.

In fact, the magazine has reported a wide range of Indian-Israeli cooperation including the erection of electronic fencing around the Kashmir region, a multibillion arms contract that would consist of provision of submarines with the capability to accommodate atomic warheads and advanced Barrak missiles.

In addition to other cooperative accords between the two countries, there is a deep and well-established relationship between the intelligence apparatuses of both the countries.

Further, India is aiming to conclude a pact with Israel similar to the one that exists between Israel and Turkey. And negotiations are under way for conducting mutual military maneuvers.

Experts say the India’s attitude toward Israel has changed fundamentally. They make their judgment on the basis of the difference between India’s past denunciations of Israel’s acts against the Palestinians and its position now. When horrible crimes are being committed against the Palestinians, their homes demolished, their men assassinated and their children killed, India has no words to denounce them. Now, its attitude is “flexible”. It blames both the parties - the victim and the aggressor in the same measure — for the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. It also calls on both the parties to continue the peace process.

Moreover, India, in its official reaction to the bombing of the nightclub in Tel Aviv, has applauded the Israeli “self-control”.

Therefore, is it logical to believe the Indian political propaganda that claims continued support for the Arabs? Do we have to believe its lies?