India’s Modi faces criticism over Israel visit ahead of Iran tensions

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Israel has come under criticism from opposition leaders and some analysts, who questioned the timing of the trip as tensions escalated with Iran.

Modi travelled to Israel in late February for a two-day visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties, including cooperation in technology and defence. During the visit, he expressed strong support for Israel, telling its parliament that India stood with the country “with full conviction.”

However, within days of the visit, Israel and the United States launched military strikes on Iran, intensifying conflict in the region.

India’s main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, criticised the visit as poorly timed and said it risked creating a perception of alignment with military escalation. Party leaders said the trip came at a moment of “heightened tensions” and warned it could have strategic consequences for India’s longstanding ties in the region.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the government’s actions raised concerns, noting that the visit took place shortly before the outbreak of hostilities.

The visit also drew scrutiny from policy observers, including a parliamentary panel led by senior lawmaker Shashi Tharoor, which questioned the symbolism of travelling to Israel amid fears of a broader regional conflict involving Iran.

India has historically maintained close relations with both Israel and Iran, balancing strategic, economic and energy interests. Analysts said the timing of the visit highlighted the challenges New Delhi faces in maintaining that balance during periods of conflict.

Following the escalation, Modi expressed concern over the situation in West Asia and called for dialogue and diplomacy, while emphasising the safety of Indian nationals in the region.

India has also signalled concern over the wider impact of the conflict, including risks to energy supplies and regional stability.

The government has not directly responded to opposition criticism but has reiterated its position in favour of de-escalation and peaceful resolution of disputes.