India's ties with Israel have deepened under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, extending beyond traditional military and trade partnerships to include increasing alignment in governance models, according to some analysts. This development has occurred as India's government has altered its historical stance on the Palestinian cause.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India's relationship with Israel has deepened, moving beyond military and trade to include an increasing alignment in governance models, coinciding with India's altered stance on the Palestinian cause.
Adoption of Security and Administrative Approaches
In 2019, then Indian consul general in New York, Sandeep Chakravorty, publicly stated his view that India should adopt an “Israeli model” in Indian-administered Kashmir. This referenced Israel’s settlements in occupied Palestinian territory and the resettlement of Kashmiri Hindus who had fled the region in 1989. This statement was made after the Modi government revoked Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status and detained thousands, including political leaders.
Analysts suggest that since 2014, New Delhi has adopted elements of Israel’s security and administrative approaches previously applied to Palestinians, implementing them in domestic policies.
Ideological Alignment and 'Bulldozer Justice'
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Modi, bases its philosophy, Hindutva, on the vision of India as a Hindu nation. Azad Essa, author of “Hostile Homelands,” has stated that the India-Israel relationship under Modi reflects a bond between ideologies that perceive themselves as civilizational projects. Observers note similarities in how both address perceived demographic and security concerns related to Muslim populations.
One example cited is the “bulldozer justice” policy in several BJP-ruled states, where authorities have demolished the homes and shops of hundreds of Muslims, often without prior legal notices. These actions frequently follow periods of religious tension or protests against government policies. This policy has drawn comparisons to Israel’s demolition of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the destruction seen during the conflict in Gaza.
Political scientist Sumantra Bose suggests that Hindu nationalists are implementing a majoritarian, supremacist nation-state model, drawing inspiration from Israel.
He further notes that Muslims in India have experienced social boycotts, difficulties in housing, and harassment. Despite a November 2024 Supreme Court ruling requiring due legal process for demolitions, such actions continue.
Defence Ties and Surveillance Technology
Defence relations form a core aspect of India-Israel bilateral ties. India is a primary purchaser of Israeli weaponry and has supplied weapons to Israel during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Israel has also provided joint training sessions and various systems, including UAVs, air defence systems, and surveillance technology to India.
Public discourse in India has sometimes invoked Israeli responses to security incidents. Following an April 2025 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, some Indian TV news channels featured discussions comparing the event to the October 2023 attack on southern Israel, with calls for similar responses against Pakistan.
The Pegasus spyware, developed by Israeli firm NSO Group, has been reportedly sold to the Modi government. Siddharth Varadarajan, co-founder of The Wire, a news website, reported being targeted by the spyware, which he described as capable of turning an iPhone into a personal spying device. He characterized the Modi government as a “happy adopter” of this Israeli model for monitoring opposition or criticism. An Indian Supreme Court-appointed committee found malware in some phones but could not conclusively attribute it to Pegasus, citing limited government cooperation. India currently ranks high among democracies for internet restrictions and has seen a decline in democracy indices.
Parallels in Population Management
Analysts, including Essa, contend that Israel has provided India with technology and expertise contributing to a more authoritarian and militarized state that treats populations as external threats.
This approach is evident in Indian-administered Kashmir, one of the world’s most militarized zones. Since August 2019, Kashmir has lost its semi-autonomous status and much of its regional democratic power.
Bose notes that the Modi government’s approach to political dialogue in Kashmir mirrors Israel’s strategy of non-engagement with Palestinians and reliance on military power. Essa also draws parallels between India's approach to Kashmir and Israel’s treatment of the West Bank, citing militarization, population management, legal regimes, checkpoints, raids, and communication blackouts as common elements shaping daily life under a state of permanent emergency.