The study, titled 'Perceptions of Hindi-Speaking Regions: Israel's Position Among India's Partners', found that 62 per cent of respondents considered Israel a good friend of India, while 57 per cent believed that Israel had stood by India during difficult times. Russia ranked first in both categories.
Israel also emerged as the second-most frequently mentioned country among nations believed to have helped India. Around 42 per cent of respondents said Israel had contributed to India's development.
In terms of trust, Israel secured the third position, with 57 per cent of respondents expressing confidence in the country. It ranked behind Russia and Japan but ahead of the United States, France, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore.
The report highlighted the India-Israel agricultural project as an important example of bilateral cooperation with a direct impact at the grassroots level. Under this initiative, 35 Centres of Excellence have been established across India in the agricultural sector. Four of these centres are located in Hindi-speaking regions, including Basti and Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh, and Vaishali and Nalanda in Bihar.
Economic ties between India and Israel have also continued to expand. Bilateral merchandise trade between the two countries reached .93 billion in 2025-26, compared with .62 billion in the previous year. Both countries signed a bilateral investment agreement in September 2025 and completed two rounds of negotiations in 2026 on a proposed free trade agreement.
91% of Gorakhpur Residents Express Trust in Israel
The survey also highlighted geographical differences, underlining the importance of direct engagement in shaping public perceptions. In face-to-face interviews, 91 per cent of respondents in Gorakhpur and 88 per cent in Varanasi said they trusted Israel.
Both cities are located in eastern Uttar Pradesh, where agricultural cooperation and the recruitment of Indian workers for employment in Israel have made bilateral engagement more direct.
However, the report cautioned against attributing these differences to any single factor. Instead, it said they reflected a broader relationship between public awareness and positive perceptions.
Support for closer relations between India and Israel also appears to be increasing. Around 50 per cent of respondents said bilateral relations should be strengthened further, while 28 per cent favoured maintaining ties at their current level. Only 13 per cent supported reducing relations between the two countries.
These findings differ from the Centre's May 2026 survey, when 41 per cent of respondents supported strengthening India-Israel relations, while 20 per cent favoured reducing them.
The study's findings indicate that Israel enjoys a strong position among India's international partners in Hindi-speaking regions. However, the report suggested that greater public awareness of Israel's contributions in areas such as agriculture and water management could further increase support for the partnership.
The central message of the report is that awareness of the practical benefits arising from bilateral cooperation plays an important role in shaping public opinion. Israel's position appears strongest in areas where people can directly observe the impact of this partnership in their everyday lives.
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