A political row erupted after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his speech to the Knesset, asserted that India recognized the newly created State of Israel on the day he was born. The statement sparked sharp reactions from Congress, which cited historical correspondence between Jawaharlal Nehru and Albert Einstein to underscore India’s early involvement in the creation of Israel.
Congress Secretary-General for Communications Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X that Modi’s speech to the Israeli Parliament was an “unabashed defense of his host” and objected to the Prime Minister drawing attention to the coincidence between his date of birth and India’s recognition of Israel.
“In fact, Albert Einstein wrote to Jawaharlal Nehru on June 13, 1947, on the subject of the creation of Israel. This is Nehru’s reply to Einstein a month later,” Ramesh wrote, sharing images of the published volumes of Jawaharlal Nehru’s selected works.
The correspondence, dated 11 July 1947, shows Nehru responding to Einstein’s letter regarding the situation in Palestine and the aspirations of the Jewish people. In his response, Nehru expressed sympathy for Jews who had suffered persecution, especially under Nazi rule, but he also acknowledged the complexities surrounding the Palestinian issue.
“The problem of Palestine, you will no doubt agree with me, is a very difficult and complex problem. When rights are in conflict, it is not easy to decide,” Nehru wrote in the letter, adding that while India sympathized with the Jews, it was necessary to consider “the larger interests of peace in the world.”
Ramesh also pointed out that Nehru and Einstein met on November 5, 1949 at Einstein’s house in Princeton. In November 1952, Einstein was offered the presidency of Israel, but he declined the offer. Shortly before his death in April 1955, the two exchanged letters again, this time about the dangers posed by explosions and nuclear weapons.
India-Israel relations over the years
India officially recognized Israel in September 1950, although full diplomatic relations were not established until 1992. Over the decades, India’s relations with Israel have expanded significantly, especially in the areas of defence, agriculture, and technology.
The BJP has often criticized Congress for what it described as an ambivalent approach to Israel during the first decades after independence, while Congress maintains that its policy balances support for Palestinian aspirations with practical engagement.
