RSS
India-led Economic Trade Corridor Could Be a Bonanza for Israel
India’s prime minister, Shri Narendra Modi, addresses the gathering at the Indian Community Reception Event at the Singapore Expo in Singapore on November 24, 2015.
JNS.org – At the recent meeting in the White House between President Donald Trump and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two leaders focused on how to make the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) initiative a reality. While the subjects discussed included bilateral issues, such as security cooperation, advanced technology, energy and trade, the central issue that most keenly relates to Israel at this difficult time was the uplifting idea of the economic corridor to stretch from India to one of Israel’s Mediterranean ports, either Ashdod or Haifa, and then on to Europe.
The idea of the economic corridor was first raised in September 2023 during the G-20 Summit in India and received resounding support from the United States, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. These countries, along with Germany, Italy, France and India, signed on to the declaration. The plan envisions two trade corridors: a maritime corridor from India to the UAE and a land corridor via railroad from UAE to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel, and then on to Europe. The plan calls for expanding underwater communication and gas pipelines, improving energy grids and telecommunication lines, promoting clean energy technology and enhancing internet access in the hopes of ensuring stability and security between the various regions.
The ostensible purpose of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor is to develop a cost-effective, cross-border, ship-to-rail transit network that would supplement existing maritime and road transport routes. Goods and services would travel to, from and between India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel and Europe, with the goal of securing regional supply chains and trade accessibility.
Israel is to be the gateway to Europe. Although Israel and Jordan are not officially co-signers of the declaration, Israel’s importance rests not only on its geostrategic location but on its advanced technological prowess as well. The skills that Israel would provide are critical to the success of the IMEC project and to the countries involved.
For Israel, the idea of a regional economic and security alliance is not new. Israel Katz, then-Israel’s minister of transportation and current defense minister, conceived of a plan in 2017 called “Tracks for Regional Peace.” He envisioned connecting Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel with Europe. His successor as transportation minister, Miri Regev, thought along the same lines, calling the project “From Gulf to Gulf” in 2021.
What made the vision more than a dream was the Abraham Accords and the normalization of relations between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco. New ways of thinking were instrumental in a gradual process toward normalization with Saudi Arabia, one demonstration of which included the Saudis permitting Israeli commercial airlines to fly over its territory, saving airlines precious fuel and shortening flight time from Israel to Africa and the Far East. There were also periodic meetings of Israeli and Saudi officials, including a “not so secret” visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (known as MBS). These preliminaries led to the first stages of cooperation in security and commerce. The Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and the subsequent war against Hamas disrupted efforts toward realizing the economic corridor.
India, however, pushed forward with a plan, investing great efforts to connect Europe, and, specifically Italy, France and Greece, with its Middle Eastern partners, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
Israel’s brilliant military performance against Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran has raised Jerusalem’s prestige in the eyes of the moderate Arab Gulf states. That prowess, combined with Trump’s return to the White House, has increased the possibility of normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia. What’s more, despite the brutal war and Arab solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, countries such as the UAE and Bahrain were not deterred and continued working closely with Israel. Thus, the prospect of moving forward with the inter-regional economic corridor has become more substantive.
The Trump administration’s close relationship with Israel and Netanyahu’s personal friendship with Modi of India provide the Jewish state with a window of opportunity to take part in the economic corridor. Even more importantly, it would present a chance to reshape the Middle East. This would strengthen Israel’s political and economic standing in the midst of an ongoing war.
Israel needs to initiate a dialogue with Trump and Modi, presenting them with a roadmap for the role Israel would play in the IMEC initiative. Part of the strategy would require, for instance, upgrading transit points on the border between Israel and Jordan, and standardizing the rail systems between the two countries. Israel could be particularly relevant in securing information and cyber-connection, which will be a crucial element of the plan’s connectivity.
An inter-regional economic corridor initiative would directly challenge China’s expensive “Belt and Road Initiative,” which seeks to establish trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia, Europe and Africa. China would certainly be unhappy with the IMEC initiative and would likely seek to disrupt it.
Given the rivalry between China and the United States—and the increase in attacks on undersea cables—securing these lines will be critical to the success of regional connectivity. Israel, for its part, can secure its portion of the Mediterranean Sea.
Finally, for Israel, the security dimension of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor is of utmost value. It will, by necessity, bring about a military defensive pact between Israel and Saudi Arabia to serve as a bulwark against the machinations of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The post India-led Economic Trade Corridor Could Be a Bonanza for Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
RSS
South Africa Distances Itself From Army Chief’s Pledges of Military, Political Support to Iran
Iranian Major General Amir Hatami and South African General Rudzani Maphwanya meet in Tehran to discuss strengthening military cooperation and strategic ties. Photo: Screenshot
South Africa’s army chief has faced domestic backlash after pledging military and political support to Iran during a recent visit, prompting government officials to distance themselves from his remarks over concerns they could harm Pretoria’s efforts to strengthen ties with the United States.
Members of South Africa’s governing coalition have denounced Gen. Rudzani Maphwanya, chief of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF), for his trip to Tehran earlier this week, describing his remarks as “reckless grandstanding.”
The Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s second-largest party in the governing coalition, has called for Maphwanya to be court-martialed for breaking neutrality and violating military law, saying his comments had gone “beyond military-to-military discussions and entered the realm of foreign policy.”
“This reckless grandstanding comes at a time when South Africa’s relations with key democratic partners, especially the United States, are already under severe strain,” DA defense spokesperson Chris Hattingh said in a statement.
“The SANDF’s job is to lead and manage the defense forces, not to act as an unsanctioned political envoy. Allowing our most senior military officer to make partisan foreign policy pronouncements is strategically reckless, diplomatically irresponsible, and economically self-defeating,” he continued.
“South Africa cannot afford to have its international standing further sabotaged by political adventurism from the military’s top brass,” Hattingh said.
Iran and South Africa held high-level military talks earlier this week as both nations seek to deepen cooperation and strengthen their partnership against what officials called “global arrogance and aggressive colonial approaches.”
During a joint press conference with Iranian Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami, Maphwanya called for deeper ties between the two nations, especially in defense cooperation, affirming that “the Republic of South Africa and the Islamic Republic of Iran have common goals.”
“We always stand alongside the oppressed and defenseless people of the world,” the South African general said.
He also criticized Israel over the ongoing war in Gaza, expressed support for the Palestinian people, and told Iranian officials that his visit “conveys a political message” on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration.
However, shortly after Maphwanya’s remarks drew media attention, the South African government moved to distance itself from his comments, with the Foreign Affairs Ministry stating that his comments “do not represent the government’s official foreign policy stance.”
The Defense Department, which described Maphwanya’s comments as “unfortunate,” confirmed that he is now expected to meet with the Minister of Defense and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, upon his return to provide explanations.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, clarified that the president was neither aware of the trip nor had he sanctioned it.
“The visit was ill-advised and more so, the expectation is that the general should have been a lot more circumspect with the comments he makes,” Magwenya told reporters during a press conference on Thursday.
“It is crucial to clarify that the implementation of South Africa’s foreign policy is a function of the presidency,” he continued. “Any statements made by an individual, or a department other than those responsible for foreign policy, should not be misinterpreted as the official position of the South African government.”
Maphwanya’s trip to Iran came after the Middle East Africa Research Institute (MEARI) released a recent report detailing how South Africa’s deepening ties with Tehran have led the country to compromise its democratic foundations and constitutional principles by aligning itself with a regime internationally condemned for terrorism, repression, and human rights abuses.
RSS
Democrat Pete Buttigieg Toughens Stance on Israel, Says He Backs Arms Embargo Following Left-Wing Pressure
Former US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks during an appearance on the “Pod Save America” podcast on Aug. 10, 2025. Photo: Screenshot
Former US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a Democrat considered by many observers to be a potential 2028 presidential candidate, has recalibrated his stance on Israel, moving from cautious language to a far more critical position after facing backlash over recent comments on the popular “Pod Save America” podcast.
In his podcast interview on Sunday, Buttigieg called Israel “a friend” and said the United States should “put your arm around” the country during difficult times. He also sidestepped a direct answer on whether the US should recognize a Palestinian state, describing the question as “profound” but offering little elaboration beyond calls for peace.
That measured approach drew sharp criticism from progressives and foreign policy voices who argued that his words were too vague amid the ongoing war in Gaza and a shifting sentiment within the Democratic party base regarding Israel. Evolving fault lines within the Democratic Party over US policy toward its staunch Middle Eastern ally signal that the issue could loom large in the 2028 presidential primary.
Following Sunday’s interview, US Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) urged Buttigieg to show “moral clarity,” while Ben Rhodes, former White House aide to President Barack Obama, said he was left uncertain where the Cabinet official stood. Social media critics accused Buttigieg of offering platitudes that dodged hard policy commitments.
In a follow-up interview with Politico published on Thursday, Buttigieg took a decidedly tougher line. He said he supports recognizing a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution and ending the decades-long practice of providing military aid to the Jewish state through sweeping, multi-year packages. Instead, he called for a case-by-case review of assistance, while emphasizing the need to stop civilian deaths, release hostages, and ensure unimpeded humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Perhaps most significantly, Buttigieg indicated support for a US arms embargo on Israel, saying he would have signed on to Sen. Bernie Sanders’s recently proposed resolution to prohibit arms sales to the Jewish state.
The shift places Buttigieg closer to the party’s progressive flank on foreign policy, a notable change for a figure often viewed as a bridge between the Democratic establishment and younger, more liberal voters. For a likely 2028 contender, the move reflects both the political risks of appearing out of step with an increasingly skeptical base and the growing influence of voices calling for sharper limits on US support for Israel.
Recent polling shows a generational divide on the issue, with younger Democrats far more likely to back conditioning aid to Israel and recognizing Palestinian statehood.
RSS
Former Algemeiner Correspondent Gidon Ben-Zvi Dies at 51
Gidon Ben-Zvi. Photo: Screenshot
Gidon Ben-Zvi, former Jerusalem Correspondent for The Algemeiner, has died at the age of 51 after a fight with cancer.
Ben-Zvi continued to write op-eds for The Algemeiner even after he left as a correspondent, including in the aftermath of Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre across southern Israel.
An accomplished writer, Ben-Zvi left Hollywood for Jerusalem in 2009, moving back to Israel after spending 12 years in the United States. From 1994-1997, Gidon served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in an infantry unit.
In addition to writing for The Algemeiner, Ben-Zvi contributed to the Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post, CiF Watch, and blogged at Jerusalem State of Mind.
Ben-Zvi joined HonestReporting as a senior editor in June 2020, becoming an integral part of the editorial department and writing dozens of articles and media critiques for the watchdog group exposing anti-Israel bias. He moved with his family to Haifa at the end of 2022.
Ben-Zvi’s final article for HonestReporting was published in January 2025, before he took a leave of absence for health reasons. HonestReporting said in a newly published obituary that staff believed he would eventually return, noting the positivity and perseverance he exuded. The advocacy group said it learned of Ben-Zvi’s passing late last month.
Ben-Zvi leaves behind his wife, Debbie, and four young children.
All Ben-Zvi’s articles for The Algemeiner can be found here.
May his memory be a blessing.