Jerusalem, Sept 9

Eden Bar Tal, Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has hailed India as a rising global superpower and stressed that Israel is determined to strengthen its strategic and people-to-people ties with New Delhi.

Speaking on Sunday, Bar Tal described India as an “excellent example” of how a country can flourish by investing in human talent and empowering its people. He noted that Israel, which has traditionally placed greater value on human resources than natural wealth, finds resonance with India’s development trajectory.

“We in Israel believe more in human resources than natural resources. When you let the population flourish, they build the country and let it flourish. India is an excellent example of it,” Bar Tal remarked.

He praised India’s rapid progress, crediting its vast talent pool, adaptability, and capacity for innovation as factors that have enabled the nation to assume a growing global role. This, he said, makes India not only an important partner for Israel but also a model for the rest of the world. “India has shown that when a nation empowers its population, the results are remarkable. That is why we look at India with admiration and as a source of inspiration,” he added.

Looking ahead, Bar Tal emphasised that Israel was committed to expanding cooperation with India across multiple spheres. While trade and investment remain important, he said the partnership extended beyond business. “We will invest a lot of our attention in establishing stronger relationships with the Indian people and the Indian government, and in business-to-business cooperation. But it goes beyond business, because we believe in the philosophy of Indian people,” he said.

Bar Tal also highlighted India’s potential role as a stabilising influence in a world where, he cautioned, some actors profit from global instability. He argued that India’s democratic ethos and inclusive philosophy could serve as a counterweight to such destabilising forces.

“India’s philosophy and its democratic ethos can be a source of stability against those who wish to destabilise the world. That is why Israel will continue to deepen its partnership with India in the years to come,” he concluded.