| India and Israel have been steadily improving defense and military relations in one of the most significant relationships in the Middle East. A new report by an Indian researcher detailed the defense and military relationship between Jerusalem and New Dehli. Entitled "India-Israel Partnership: Convergence and Constraints," author Harsh Pant said the Indian-Israeli alliance can alter the balance of power in both the Middle East, South Asia and beyond. "In sharp contrast to the back-channel security ties that existed even before the normalization of bilateral relations, India now seems more willing to openly carve out a mutually beneficial bilateral relationship with Israel, including deepening military ties and countering the threat posed by terrorism to the two societies," the report said. In a report published by the Middle East Review of International Affairs, Pant said the Indian-Israeli relationship was bolstered by the visit to India of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in September 2003. This marked the first visit to India by an Israeli prime minister and "signaled the sea change in relations between the two states" and led to New Dehli's $1.1 billion purchase of three Phalcon airborne early-warning aircraft in March 2004. |