00:00Let's take a look at who he is.
00:03So, Benjamin Netanyahu, we all know he's the Israeli Prime Minister.
00:07He's the longest-serving Prime Minister in Israel's history,
00:10whereas his opponent, Gandhi Eisenkot,
00:12he's the former chief of Israel Defense Forces.
00:16Now, Benjamin Netanyahu has been blamed for lapses
00:20before the October 7th Hamas attacks.
00:22He has been blamed for the lapses that led to the October 7th Hamas attacks,
00:26whereas Gandhi Eisenkot has vowed inquiry into the failures of the October 7th attack.
00:32Remember, Benjamin Netanyahu has been opposing any inquiry or probe into the failures,
00:37whereas Gandhi Eisenkot has promised that there will be an inquiry into the lapses.
00:42And Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to annex West Bank settlements,
00:46whereas Eisenkot opposes Netanyahu's West Bank plan.
00:50Benjamin Netanyahu has received Trump's endorsement.
00:53So, Donald Trump, the U.S. president, strongly backs Benjamin Netanyahu,
00:56whereas Eisenkot may give Trump more room for diplomacy.
01:01So, that is all about Benjamin Netanyahu and his formidable challenger, Gandhi Eisenkot.
01:08And my colleague Pranay Upadhyay continues to stay with us.
01:11Pranay, we were talking about the prospects of Gandhi Eisenkot.
01:15Tell us more about his promises that he has made,
01:18and if at all he wins these elections,
01:20what are the concrete changes that we could witness?
01:23In this election, there are many issues which are dominating the political discourse, Anjali.
01:28A, the accountability for the 7th of October terror attack.
01:31You know, who failed this state of Israel?
01:33How, you know, who are responsible for the lapses?
01:37And who have been punished so far?
01:39So, these are the questions which are being asked by the opposition,
01:42and they are asking for the accountability of people,
01:44those who have failed on the state of Israel,
01:46and failed to secure the borders.
01:49So, border security remains an issue here,
01:52and that is the reason, especially in the border areas,
01:55the Gandhi Eisenkot's Yashar party is, you know, is pressing hard,
01:59and in fact, they are asking that, you know,
02:01people on the border areas in Beitha,
02:03from Elaj to Kiryat Shemona,
02:05in all these areas from north to south,
02:07these are the people, those who face the brunt of,
02:10you know, these security lapses,
02:12and in fact, as former IDF chief,
02:15he is assuring people that he is going to ensure
02:18that there are no security lapses,
02:20and people, those who are responsible for those lapses,
02:23get punished.
02:24But besides that, the cost of living
02:26is also one of the important issues,
02:28which is being talked about,
02:29because the, you know, as everywhere in the world,
02:33the world is facing the heat,
02:34the global economy is really under the pressure
02:36of the ongoing conflicts,
02:38and in fact, the prices have also soared
02:40in Israel,
02:41and that is the expectation of people in Israel,
02:44that anyone who can assure,
02:45anyone who can deliver the promise
02:47of lowering the cost of living
02:48will get their vote.
02:51All right, Pranay, do stay with us.
02:52So, a lot is at stake for India also,
02:57as far as these elections,
02:59the upcoming elections in Israel is concerned,
03:01which is on October 27th.
03:03So, let's understand what's at stake for India.
03:07So, firstly, the defense ties,
03:08because Netanyahu government has given access
03:10to cutting-edge weapons to India.
03:13Prime Minister Modi and Netanyahu's personal rapport,
03:15we've also seen how he's already invited
03:17Prime Minister Modi to the next Independence Day celebrations
03:21in Israel, which is in May.
03:24The new government in Tel Aviv could alter the bilateral ties.
03:27So, the bilateral ties between Israel and India
03:30could be impacted if there's a new government.
03:32That will have to be seen what happens.
03:34The West Asia stability.
03:36So, an emboldened Netanyahu could escalate the war.
03:41So, the war could also be escalated.
03:44The crude prices, there will be impact on crude prices also,
03:47because the prices will increase if Netanyahu resumes the strikes on Iran,
03:51and which is very much a possibility if he comes back to power.
03:56My colleague Pradeh continues to stay with us.
03:58Pradeh, so, a lot is at stake, not just for Israel,
04:02but for India also, as far as these elections are concerned,
04:06be it the war, be it the crude prices,
04:08be it the bilateral ties.
04:11Absolutely, India is also closely watching the outcome of these elections.
04:14But, let me tell you, Anjali, when I spoke to people here,
04:17and in fact, many election analysts and people,
04:21those who are closely following the politics of Israel,
04:23there is a bipartisan support as far as the strategic partnership
04:26with India is concerned.
04:27And we have seen an example of that bipartisan support
04:30in the month of February,
04:32when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited
04:34and he addressed the Knesset, or the Israeli parliament,
04:37there was a bipartisan support.
04:38And, in fact, the opposition leader
04:40who opposed the Prime Minister's speech
04:42did participate, did come back for the election,
04:47for the speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
04:49And, in fact, interestingly, the Fly Dubai incident,
04:51Captain Smith Machar's bravery is also, you know,
04:55being talked about the moment you tell people
04:57that, you know, you are from India,
04:58they warmly greet you.
05:00And they do mention about Captain Smith Machar's bravery,
05:05and they say that, you know, we are thankful to India.
05:07Besides that, the strategic relationship between India and Israel
05:11have grown, you know, in many years.
05:15And we have seen that, be it a defence partnership,
05:16technology transfer, or technology partnership,
05:19to the ambitious projects of IMAC,
05:21India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor Project,
05:23where, you know, the Haifa port is owned by Indian company,
05:28and is being developed by Indian company.
05:30And there are a lot of Indian investments.
05:32And besides that, Israel has also emerged
05:35as an attractive destination for thousands of Indians
05:37to come and work and contribute in the Israeli economy.
05:40And they also enjoy that goodwill, you know,
05:43Indian, you know, workforce has generated here.
05:46And, in fact, Israel is attracting a large number of Indians
05:50for the infrastructure development projects
05:52which are being pursued by the government of Israel here.
05:54All right, Pranay, do stay with us.
