While Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second state visit to Israel was hailed as a diplomatic triumph in New Delhi, the view from the bunkers in Tel Aviv is far more critical. Menahem Pal, a prominent agronomist born in North Paravoor, Kerala, has voiced concerns that the visit’s timing has inadvertently linked India to the escalating regional war.
Pal, who was an invited guest at the Indian embassy during the joint press statements on Thursday, found himself sheltering from Iranian missiles just three days later.
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The Guest’s Perspective: From Embassy to Bunker
For Menahem Pal, the shift from high-level diplomacy to survival was jarringly swift.
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The Invite: Pal attended the historic summit where PM Modi and Benjamin Netanyahu outlined a futuristic roadmap for agriculture and AI.
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The Sunday Siren: By Sunday morning, March 1, Pal and his son had to take shelter twice. “Modi’s visit happened at a most inopportune time,” Pal told The Telegraph.
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Perception of Endorsement: He argues that visiting a nation just as it prepares for a major offensive (green-lit by US President Donald Trump) creates a global perception that India supports the military escalation.
Diplomatic Overlap: The “Special Strategic Partnership”
The visit was intended to cement long-term ties, but it coincided with a massive military buildup.
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Elevation of Ties: On February 26, the leaders elevated the relationship to a “Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation, and Prosperity.”
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Strategic Irony: Even as Modi discussed “humanity” and the “Global South’s call for peace,” the US and Israel were finalizing coordinates for strikes on Iranian missile storage and nuclear facilities.
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Operation Epic Fury: The US-Israel Strike
On the morning of February 28, 2026, the geopolitical landscape changed.
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The Assault: Dubbed “Operation Epic Fury” by the Trump administration, the joint strike targeted multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran.
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Iranian Retaliation: Iran responded within hours, firing waves of missiles toward northern Israel and US bases, leading to the air raid sirens Pal described.
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Regional Shutdown: Israel has since entered a state of emergency, with airspace closed and all non-essential activities halted.
Reality Check
The timing of the visit was likely fixed months in advance. Still, the rapid transition from a “Peace and Innovation” summit to a regional war is a nightmare for Indian “balanced diplomacy.” Therefore, while the visit achieved its bilateral goals (defense deals and UPI integration), it has left New Delhi in a delicate position, trying to maintain its “neutral” status while being the last major power to hold a high-profile summit in Israel before the strikes.
The Loopholes
Pal suggests the Indian embassy knew an attack was “imminent.” In fact, this is a “Diplomatic Foresight Loophole”—if New Delhi had cancelled, it would have signaled a lack of faith in Israel; by proceeding, it signaled a potential alignment. Therefore, the decision to go ahead was a calculated risk that “staying the course” was less damaging than a last-minute cancellation. Still, the “Trump Loophole”—where the US President confirmed the strikes just as Modi departed—indicates that the timeline was likely kept tight to avoid giving regional actors advanced warning.
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What This Means for You
If you have family or interests in Israel or Iran, prepare for extended communication disruptions. First, realize that the situation is now a “state of war,” and commercial flights are heavily restricted. Then, if you are an Indian citizen in Israel, ensure you are registered with the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv, as the “Operation Ajay” style evacuations could be activated if the missile exchanges continue.
Finally, understand that energy prices will likely spike. You should watch for fuel and LPG price revisions in India, as the “Strait of Hormuz” tension will impact global oil supply. Before you plan any travel to the Middle East, check the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) travel advisories, which were updated on February 27 to “avoid all non-essential travel to the region.”
What’s Next
The UN Security Council is expected to meet in an emergency session on Monday. Then, look for a formal statement from the Indian MEA regarding the “safety of the 100,000+ Indian workers” currently in Israel. Finally, the Gaza Peace Plan, which Modi explicitly supported during the visit, will likely be suspended as the focus shifts to the direct Iran-Israel confrontation.
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