They were the representatives of two major powers in the region with completely divergent world views. But the Interior Ministers of Israel and Iran seemed to have one common interest — that of taking advantage of India’s growth story — as they interacted with Indian ministers and officials on the sidelines of the Asian Ministers Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.

There was, however, a discernible difference in the political treatment when it came to the levels of interaction. With the Government under constant Left scrutiny, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took time out to meet Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Pour Mohammadi. Pour Mohammadi carried a personal invitation from President Ahmedinajad to Singh to visit Iran. He also met External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

Israeli Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit’s schedule was relatively low-key, as he met Mukherjee, Patil and Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyer.

Israel is keen on upgrading technological cooperation between the two countries. “We have a strong association with India in the areas of technology and agriculture,” Meir Sheetrit said in an interview to The Indian Express.

Israel believes India has “great” potential. While the first 45 years after both countries became independent was something of a “missed opportunity”, Sheetrit believes that the level of relationship is now going up. “There are over 90 Israeli companies in India, in different areas. There are many Indian companies in Israel,” he pointed out. But this is “not yet the peak, it will go up in future”.

... contd.