Formal recognition of Israel by India is expected to be announced shortly after the end of the New Year recess of the Indian Parliament, it is believed here in informed quarters. These circles base their opinion on Premier Jawaharlal Nehru’s recent statement to the Parliament at New Delhi that recognition of the Jewish state cannot long be delayed.
Meanwhile, sentiment in support of recognition received strong backing from Prof. Moulana Lal Choudhury Shastri, famous Sanskrit and Arabic scholar of Calcutta University. Writing in the leading Bengal journal, the Amrita Bazar Patrika, he declared that Israel is the “Western sentinel of Asia.” The professor, who formerly taught at Cairo University and studied Islamic culture in Egypt, stated in the article that “India has more in common with Israel than with any other race of Asia.” He voiced regret that Israel was not invited to the recent Asian conference in New Delhi and denied the validity of the argument put forward to justify Indian delay of recognition, namely, that the move would antagonize the Arab countries and Pakistan.
(Haim Yasset, director-general of the social division of the Israel Ministry of Welfare, left for India from Tel Aviv during the week-and to represent the Jewish state at the All-Indian Congress for Social Welfare, opening in New Delhi today. He was invited to represent Israel as an observer.)
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