New Delhi, A pan-Indian survey of Gen Z highlighted a “perceptible recalibration in generational awareness” among the youth who consider Israel to be among the top five nations in diplomatic ties and among the top three in defence cooperation, ahead of traditional allies such as the US and France, the India Israel Centre said.
The survey also found that 41 per cent of respondents placed Israel among India’s key diplomatic partners, ahead of the US at 39 per cent. The findings, released on September 16, are based on a study conducted using AI platforms, the statement said. With a substantial portion of Gen Z born after the 1999 Kargil conflict, popular historical perception had largely associated India’s legacy defence with being backed by powers like Russia and the US, it said. The India Israel Centre said the 22-25 age group was the most receptive to stronger India-Israel cooperation, and claimed there had been a fourfold increase in respondents advocating substantially stronger future bilateral ties.
The statement did not mention other countries that were top of the rankings in diplomatic and defence ties.
Recent cultural narratives, pop culture touchpoints and podcasts have begun bringing to light Israel’s critical role in delivering emergency laser-guided munitions and surveillance support to Indian armed forces, rapidly changing perceptions of who India’s time-tested allies are, according to a statement by the India Israel Centre. It further said defence and technological innovation were emerging as the main drivers of young Indians’ perceptions of the bilateral relationship, with Israel recording a five percentage-point increase in its defence rating over the previous year. He said the findings also reflected “growing public awareness and appreciation” of the bilateral relationship.
