A five-day workshop on “Israel in Its Own Image: From 1948 to the Present” was organized by the O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, in collaboration with the Israel Institute (Washington, D.C.), the Azrieli Centre for Israel Studies (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel), and the Elizabeth and Tony Comper Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Antisemitism and Racism (University of Haifa, Israel). The workshop focused on how contemporary Israel perceives its reality—a core question in Israeli studies. The answer lies in the history of the past 75 years. Twenty-eight students and researchers participated in the workshop, which revolved around three key aspects of Israel: its history, society, and foreign policy.
The history segment traced the origins of the Zionist movement from the first Zionist Congress in 1897 in Basel, Switzerland to its evolution to its ideological factions. These factions, after the establishment of the state of Israel transformed into political parties like HaAvoda and Likud, which have dominated Israeli politics since 1948. The sessions on Israeli society explored religious divisions within the Jewish population that had emerged since the days of the Zionist movement and their influence on contemporary Israel. The foreign policy discussions examined the evolution of Israel’s relations specifically with Arab countries, the U.S. and India.
The workshop featured guest lectures by Israeli diplomats, journalists who have covered conflicts, and Indian experts in Israeli studies.
The workshop’s dates January 27-31, 2025, coincided with the signing of the Israel–Hamas ceasefire agreement, and the continuing Palestinian deaths and displacement from the war. Against this backdrop, the speakers presented the complexities of the modern state of Israel, from its inception to the present.
The participants came from public universities in India, primarily from the social sciences, and researchers from think tanks. Their responses were mixed. Many had strong opinions about Israel, particularly in the context of the Israel–Hamas war. They posed challenging questions on topics ranging from Zionism and antisemitism to alleged war crimes in Gaza. When responding to them, most speakers refrained from justifying Israeli government actions but instead provided historical and political contexts to facilitate a deeper understanding.
Israel has faced three major challenges during this period: security, survival, and normalization. For security, it fought a series of wars with Arab states; for survival, it relied on support from great powers; and for normalization, it sought to build diplomatic ties, particularly with the Global South. At the same time, Israel aimed to establish itself as a significant player in global politics. However, the recurring conflicts with Arab states and the persistent threat of diplomatic isolation have significantly influenced and shaped Israeli politics and foreign policy.
Israeli society is deeply divided along religious lines. The Jewish population is categorized into Haredi (ultra-Orthodox), Dati (religious), Masorti (traditional), and Hiloni (secular). All these, along with Arab and Christian communities, have created their own political parties. As a result, Israel’s political landscape has depended heavily on coalitions and shifting political arrangements among these groups. The gradual swing in power from left-liberal factions to conservative and religious Zionists in 1977 has influenced Israel’s approach to the Palestinian question, one that over the last decade, has increasingly focused on maintaining the status quo rather than seeking a long-term resolution.
By fostering informed discussions and diverse perspectives, the workshop enabled participants to engage with Israel’s complexities beyond the rhetoric of either the Palestinians or the Israeli government, incorporating voices from Israeli academia and civil society. It was a notable attempt by Israel to present itself to India—an emerging power and key ally. The fact that this responsibility was undertaken by Israeli universities rather than the government is both unique and commendable, reflecting an academic approach to people-to-people diplomacy and cross-cultural understanding.
Aditya Shinde is Research Assistant, Gateway House.
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