Target Bangladesh? Israel offers counter terrorism help to West Bengal

[Alchemist]

I’m not really a keen follower of conspiracy theoris, but is there something big cooking in West Bengal when they declined our fair share of Teesta River water?

I’m becoming a cynic after reading the recent developments:

Bengal priority state for Israel: Envoyhttp://zeenews.india.com/business/ne...1&newsid=30323

Israel is discussing agriculture (!) with West Bengal. Isn’t West Bengal’s main concern agriculture when it comes to Teesta water?

Israeli envoy for collaboration in agriculturehttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/9972525.cms

The following news from Anadabazar Patrika talks about Bangladesh being part of the West Bengal- Israel discussion:

সন্ত্রাস ঠেকানোর প্রশিক্ষণ দিতে চায় ইজরায়েল
http://www.anandabazar.in/14raj1.html

What’s going on here???? The timing of this discussion is…………..

[Severus]

mamata wants to use fear to consolidate her power

[Rabz]

JIB HQ welcomes the news...

[Alchemist]

Originally Posted by Rabz
JIB HQ welcomes the news...

What's JIB?

[Rabz]

^^ Jamaayat Islami Bangladesh.

[BANFAN]

If this really happens, expect radicalism to rise considerably to damage our social harmony, security and economy... Israel has reasons to target us.

Mamata might be in power for some more time, but it will hurt West Bengal as much it will harm us. India/WB should be the last to do such things & increase their own communal differences further. unfotunately power makes politicians often short sighted.

[Alchemist]

Israel eyes alliance with ‘friend’ Bengal

Calcutta, Sept. 14: Mamata Banerjee’s interest in forging greater ties with Israel will help in developing a long-term partnership between her state and his country, the West Asian nation’s envoy to India said after a two-day trip to the Bengal capital.

“I had a wonderful meeting with the chief minister of Bengal and she has promised full co-operation to ensure closer ties between Israel and Bengal. In the next stage, professionals will have to discuss in detail,” Alon Ushpiz told The Telegraph this evening.

During his stay in Calcutta, Ushpiz inaugurated an Israeli business promotion office in the city. The ambassador said the Centre would help in “match-making” and facilitating Israeli investment in Bengal and vice-versa.

Although Israel has had ties with Bengal for some time, the previous Left Front government was not too keen on expanding the scope because of political considerations.

Asked whether the change of guard in Bengal would improve the ties, Ushpiz said: “The local politics of West Bengal is not Israel’s business…. What we know is people of West Bengal are friends of Jewish people and we want to build on that.”

Improving trade ties with Bengal is part of Israel’s overall strategy of engaging more with India. The two countries are now discussing the modalities for a free-trade agreement, expected to be sealed by the end of 2012.

Ushpiz has said bilateral trade was estimated to touch $5 billion by the end of 2011 and had the potential to reach $15 billion once the pact was in place.

Although Israel has close ties with several Indian states, such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana and Rajasthan, Ushpiz said there was great synergy between his country and Bengal.

“Both people of Bengal and Israel have great energy…. Besides, the people here and back in my country are extremely opinionated,” the ambassador, who was on his maiden trip to the city after taking charge at the Israeli embassy in Delhi, added.

Ushpiz said Israel and Bengal could co-operate in several areas and added that his country could provide technological help in irrigation and water management.

“We have requested the government to send a delegation to Israel in November, during WATEC, an exhibition on water management,” Ushpiz said.

The Israeli ambassador also tossed up a proposal before the Bengal government on creating a platform for joint industrial research and development.

Ushpiz did not want to answer questions on whether Israel would help the state government in tackling Maoist insurgents.

“These are things we don’t discuss in public. But I can say that the well-being of the people of Bengal is very important for us. We also believe that any Indian citizen has the right to live in peace,” he said.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/111091...y_14509409.jsp

[Zunaid]

Why ever would Israel want to target us, Banfan? while Israeli presence may inflame communal tensions until the Palestinian issue is resolved, there is much to be learned from them. If only we could emulate their tech-corridor which competes with the best of Silicon Valley as a center for innovation and technical excellence.

[Neel Here]

the area where israelis have real expertise but which we ignore is farming with scarce water resources.
they are masters at that. In India arid states like gujarat and rajasthan have benefited from israeli advisers in this area. going by the water situation in the sub-continent we should learn from them without inhibitions and reap tangible benefits.

as an aside, I find it really ironic that bangladeshis get all worked up and shut themselves from israel for their treatment of people in ME. the same people who were firmly against BD and for pakistan when the genocide was happening. jordan and UAE even sent aircraft to support pakistan in the war.

funnily enough, a certain zia-ul-haq, later to be president of pakistan killed 25,000 palestinians at the behest of the jordanian govt. yet no one in BD talks of cutting relations with jordan.
people in countries like ours, whether BD or India would do much better if we applied a little realpolitik and less misplaced idealism.