Sharaka, a prominent non-governmental organisation, recently hosted its inaugural delegation of Indian intellectuals, influencers, professionals, and academics in Israel as part of its flagship India-Israel Maitri Project (IIMP). The initiative seeks to foster deeper awareness and understanding through Holocaust education and cultural exposure.
"We are honoured to host this Indian delegation. The delegates represent the great diversity and talents of a rising Indian civilisation. There is enormous untapped potential in Israel-India relations, and the knowledge and experiences that they will gain on this visit will lay the foundations for the future of our relations for many years to come," Amit Deri, chairman and co-founder of Sharaka, said during the visit, which began on India's Republic Day.
The delegation, comprising representatives from diverse faiths, including Muslim, Hindu, and Christian communities, was hailed as a step towards enhancing ties between the two nations.
Dan Feferman, Sharaka's Executive Director, remarked, "We are excited to host this senior delegation in Israel of Muslim, Hindu, and Christian leaders from India. Although Indians have a general affinity to Israel and vice versa, our societies are not deeply familiar with each other, and this presents an opportunity to build on this relationship with the largest democracy, home to one of the largest Muslim communities in the world."
The six-day programme, which concluded on 31 January, included visits to historical and religious landmarks in Jerusalem, interactions with local academics and public policy experts, and dialogues with Israeli Arabs.
A key highlight of the itinerary was a visit to areas affected by the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages. Delegates sought a better understanding of the geopolitical landscape and ongoing conflict.
The delegation also attended a seminar at Yad VaShem, the Holocaust Museum, where discussions focused on the Holocaust, genocides in modern history, and the need for coexistence in pluralistic societies. A special session commemorating 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz was held, featuring Holocaust survivor Rena Quint.
"During this extraordinary visit, an intense and enlightening immersion I would call it, we learned so much not only about Israel or its current conflict with its enemies such as Hamas, but about the almost limitless possibilities of Indo-Israeli friendship and cooperation," said Dr Makarand R. Paranjape, a noted author and educator.
Also read: Plane with 6 aboard crashes in US’s Philadelphia, sets houses ablaze
Subuhi Khan, a Supreme Court lawyer and founder of Rashtra Jagran Abhiyan, was profoundly moved by the visit.
"I went to the Nova festival site and the Nir Oz Kibbutz where Hamas terrorists killed and took hostage hundreds of innocent Israelis. I have never seen terror and its consequences so closely. As a Muslim, I feel ashamed that it is happening in the name of our religion. Saying that terror has no religion and disowning these terrorists won’t work," she asserted.
Khan urged the Muslim community to take responsibility for countering radicalism. "We, as Muslim community, must take full responsibility and hold ourselves accountable that these are our kids who are being radicalised and made into monsters. The Muslim society is failing as a community to address the problem of radicalism in the name of our religion. We must stand together and do something to show the right path to our future generations," she stressed.
The delegation met families of individuals who had either been killed or taken hostage. Khan expressed astonishment at the resilience of these families. "A beautiful lady named Efrat said, 'It doesn’t matter what you believe in, as long as you believe in good,'" she recalled.
The visiting group included prominent figures such as Takshashila Institute researcher Yusuf Taher Unjhawala, former Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta, medical professional Arif Hussain Theruvath Mohammad, decorated army veterans Lt Gen Satish Kumar Dua and Rajendra Ramrao Nimbhorkar, authors Omer Ghazi and Sifra Lentin, and journalists Snehesh Alex Philip, Neha Khanna, and Devang Bhanushankar Bhatt.
The programme was supported by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, sponsored by the Foundation "Remembrance, Responsibility and Future" and backed by the German Federal Ministry of Finance.
Sharaka, meaning "partnership" in Arabic, was established by social entrepreneurs from the Arab world and Israel to promote peace. Its success in fostering ties with Arab nations following the Abraham Accords has now inspired efforts to engage with South Asian countries like India.
"The goodwill and awareness generated by these initiatives serve to strengthen bonds of friendship between people and enhance understanding and empathy between them," a Sharaka press release noted.
Follow us
