Modi's Israel visit to tests India's priorities in the Middle East

India and Israel have emphasized their strong relationship, with India remaining a major buyer of Israeli arms and a partner on counter‑terrorism. Analysts say an upcoming trip will test India's diplomatic balancing in the Middle East: New Delhi has condemned the 7 October Hamas attacks and shown solidarity with Israel, while also voicing concern about civilian casualties in Gaza and reaffirming support for a two‑state solution amid rising regional tensions. - Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Israel — his first since the Gaza war began — to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog and to address the Knesset. No meetings with Palestinian leaders are planned. - The visit is framed as a bilateral push to deepen defence, technology and trade ties that have grown significantly since Modi’s 2017 visit. - Concerns about possible US military action against Iran and a large recent US military buildup in the region have raised fears of wider escalation, but Modi’s discussions of regional tensions are expected to be kept behind closed doors. - Analysts say the approach fits India’s longstanding non‑interference policy and balancing act with Middle Eastern partners (India recognised Palestine in 1988 and prefers regional solutions). Modi will seek Israeli technology and defence equipment amid India’s gaps in domestic defence tech and tensions with Pakistan and China. - The planned Knesset speech is politically sensitive in Israel: the chamber was lit in Indian flag colours (shared by Modi on social media), and opposition lawmakers have threatened to boycott unless Supreme Court President Isaac Amit is invited amid Israel’s judicial‑reform dispute. The Speaker may invite former lawmakers to avoid empty seats. - Back in India, opposition leaders including Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh have criticised the visit as abandoning the Palestinian cause, but analysts argue the trip reflects long‑term strategic calculations and India’s interest in Middle East stability for energy and connectivity.