US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI6735

S E C R E T NEW DELHI 006735 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2015 
TAGS: PREL, IN, IS, India-Israel 
SUBJECT: GOI VISITOR DISAPPOINTS ISRAEL 
 
REF: A. 04 NEW DELHI 7348 
 
     B. 04 NEW DELHI 7966 
 
Classified By: A/DCM Geoff Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
1.  (S) Israel DCM Yoed Magen gave us an unexpectedly 
downbeat readout of the August 28 visit to Jerusalem by MEA 
Secretary East Rajiv Sikri, reporting that Sikri appeared 
 
SIPDIS 
more often to be the representative of the Palestinians, 
rather than India.  The Israelis went all out for this visit, 
supplementing the formal Foreign Office talks (led by Deputy 
Director-General for Asia and Pacific Amos Nadai) with a call 
on Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom.  Magen reported that 
Indian Ambassador to Tel Aviv Arun K. Singh seemed shocked by 
Sikri's unreformed positions on issues like disengagement, 
adding that the Indian delegation appeared completely unmoved 
by changes sparked by Arafat's death, the Gaza withdrawal, 
and strengthened India-Israel ties.  "It was like nothing had 
changed," the Israeli DCM concluded. 
 
2.  (S) Because Sikri insisted that the draft joint statement 
should be datelined Tel Aviv (vice Jerusalem), the Israelis 
refused to issue any document.  Magen also confirmed that the 
Israeli Embassy had been the source for a recent front page 
story and editorial in the pro-BJP Pioneer criticizing India 
for its failure to acknowledge the Gaza withdrawal.  The MEA 
earlier rebuffed the Israeli Embassy when it asked for a 
statement on Gaza, saying that disengagement was only one 
step in a long process. 
 
Comment: Profiles in Cowardice 
------------------------------ 
 
3.  (C) The contrast in public approaches between the NDA and 
UPA government could not be more stark.  The continued 
old-think in MEA (Ref A) clashes with India's proposal during 
the visit last week of Israel's Chief Scientist Eli Opper to 
expand the soon-to-be-established USD 2 million per year 
joint Indo-Israeli R&D fund to USD 25 million.  (Note: The 
fund envisions supporting Indo-Israeli biotech, nanotech, 
space, water and alternative energy projects.  End Note)  It 
also stands in marked contrast to India's expanding defense 
trade with Israel.  The GOI is willing to get down to 
business with Israel in defense, commercial, and scientific 
areas (Ref B).  However, the foreign policy establishment 
remains mired firmly in the past as the Congress-led UPA 
(beholden to India's 130 million Muslims for a chunk of its 
political support) continues to posture itself as the 
defender of Palestinian ambitions.  The net result of this 
duplicity is that others have done more with Israel than the 
UPA. 
 
4.  (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website: 
(http//www.state.sgov/p/sa/newdelhi) 
MULFORD