A while back, I commented that India was likely Israel's next major ally and foreign patron. Obama is looking increasingly likely to win a second term, in which case he will not have to pretend to like Israel to appease Jewish voters and donors. Obama can be Obama in his second term, and will likely try to throw Israel to the dogs. Obama's approval rating is about 40%, but the Republicans cannot muster a strong candidate. Winning the majority vote does not necessarily mean winning an election, as was seen with Bush in 2000. California will likely vote for Obama, which already gives him lots of electoral votes. If this is indeed the case, we need to look to India as our next strategic partner. To appease India's Muslims, the relationship does not have to be aknowledged too publicly.

You are right in every point. I agree Obama will not win the election but the Republicans with their zany line up will lose it ... Then Obama will be the BUS DRIVER under whose bus Israel will be thrown

As an Indian, I don't consider any country to be a bigger ally of ours than Israel. We suffer a multitude of problems which are similar and cooperate on them. As a guy who grew up in Delhi, my family has known many diplomats and foreign ministry officials and they all say that Israel is THE ally and the occasional empty kisses thrown at Palestine (when there is a Left Liberal govt here) are just that - meaningless, false posturing. India should NOT support Palestine; the same people who kill our soldiers, civilians in Kashmir are also applauded by those who shoot rockets at innocent Israelis. And above all Govt level interactions, there is just a basic humane sympathy for Israel in India among us youth, which according to me can't be found anywhere else in this world. Sadly, I've found some anti Israeli sentiment in a couple of Americans I've met while none at all in India. Israel's stereotypes in India are these:extremely efficient military, highly intelligent people, breathtakingly beautiful beaches and sights and of course, ridiculously gorgeous women!

The musical group "Indian Ocean" was featured at the 4th of July Folk festivities in DC a few years ago. You won't understand a thing they sing, but they put on a great performance. They're based in New Delhi I think. If Israel hasn't invited them to the upcoming Festival of India, they should be.

There are more Christians in India than there are Jews in the world. Most of them are religious and would like to visit Israel. Also many educated Hindus like myself attended Catholic schools in India and are familiar with the Bible. There is a HUGE tourism potential for Israel! Hope there is more cooperation between the nations in healthcare and agriculture and less on guns and arms.

The feelings are mutual. I admire India and your old culture and civilization. Much of the wisdom, Asian philosophies and religions and even mathematics itself originates from brilliant Indian minds. I believe the Jews, the Indians and the Chinese are the three oldest living civilizations on earth. The three of us were highly advanced nations before Europe was even conceived. Bless you Rakesh Sen. I'd love to visit your country.

An American of Asian Indian origin, I visited Israel and loved it! There is so much history and the food and the people are wonderful. Like another Indian wrote on this Talkback, wish India and Israel could cooperate more on issues dealing with agriculture, energy independence with use of alternative energy sources and not weapons and suchlike. Would love to visit Israel again and see Eilat which I did not visit the last time!

As an American Jew who lived for a year in India let me warn you about three things: 1) The average Indian is very gracious and courteous. But put in Indian in a bureaurocratic position and he/she becomes impossible. Indian bureaucrats are not human beings. 2. As a life-long monotheist (Jew) I never understood Hinduism for a moment. It is an unbelievably complex religion that defies 'logic.' Indians love Hinduism for reasons I simply cannot fathom. 3. The swastika is an established Indian symbol which they are proud of and have no intention whatsoever of relinquishing to the Germans. The family name 'Swastik' is fairly common. The swastika in India has no anti-semitic overtones. Get used to it.

I, as an Indian Muslim, do feel that Israel-India friendship would go a long way in forging troubled relationship between Muslims and Jews. We, as Indian Muslims, are often looked down upon by Muslims of so called "Muslim World" as we do not share their extremist views. Indian Muslims are more accommodating and moderate as compared to other Muslims worldwide. I personally think that Indian Muslims should embrace Israel as a friend and create an example for the Muslim world to follow. Israel, on the other hand, should leverage their special relationship with India in assimilating with Indian Muslims by encouraging them to undertake vacation tours to Israel (including Jerusalem). This would definitely bolster our ties more and Indian government would also not have to covert its co-operation with Israel for the sake of "appeasement".

India is nothing compared to China. Nobody can be as great as Chinese.

I really appreciate the way India has progressed in the past 2 decades by opening its doors to the western world, and the entry of Israeli companies into India is no exception.Companies like Teva, Nice and Amdocs are at home in bangalore and hyderabad as IBM, GE or DELL in india, and i see this as something we are witnessing as a result of growing ties between the 2 democracies.Also Israel can openly expand its ties with the south asian behemoth, as there has been no history of anti-semitism in India and both share a common Defence understanding and relationship> i wish it progresses forward in the forthcoming years.