AJC Celebrates 20 Years of India-Israel Ties

News provided by

Jan 31, 2012, 02:29 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC, the premier global Jewish advocacy organization, congratulated India and Israel on the 20th anniversary of the two democratic nations establishing full diplomatic relations.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100816/AJCLOGO)

"After two decades of wide-ranging ties, the rationale, depth and mutual benefits of the India-Israel relationship are abundantly clear to the governments and people of both countries, and to all who share their democratic values," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "On this milestone anniversary, there is much to celebrate and much to anticipate as these two nations grow ever closer."

AJC, which maintains one of its nine overseas offices in Mumbai, has played a key role as a non-governmental organization involved with diplomacy in nurturing Indian-Israeli cooperation. The organization also works to deepen understanding between Indians and Jews in the United States. Further, AJC encourages enhanced strategic, political, economic and cultural ties between the United States and India, the world's most populous democratic nation.

Senior Indian political leaders have addressed AJC annual meetings. An AJC interreligious initiative brought to Israel leaders of the Muslim community in India, and AJC has been a co-sponsor of several Hindu-Jewish summits – in India, Israel and the United States.

"Direct interaction is key to building the understanding and mutual appreciation that are so essential to broadening the cooperative ties that India and Israel enjoy," said Harris.

One remarkable benefit has been the monumental expansion in bilateral trade, which was only $180 million in 1992, and today is more than $5 billion. The two countries cooperate closely in a range of high-technology fields.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee