Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, has emerged as the strongest challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and opposition leaders have backed him as their candidate for prime minister. The prospect of a change of government has raised a question in New Delhi: will the close India-Israel relationship, long driven by the personal rapport between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Netanyahu, survive a change of leader?
Diplomatic experts say the answer is yes. In February 2026, the two countries upgraded their ties to a “Special Strategic Partnership,” with agreements already in place on artificial intelligence, semiconductors, cybersecurity and agriculture. A defence cooperation memorandum signed in November 2025 added to this foundation, and both countries share a common position on cross-border terrorism and Islamist extremism.
The economic links are also institutional. India has made major investments in Haifa Port, a free trade agreement is under discussion, and bilateral trade stands at about $3.93 billion. Analysts note that none of this depends on any single leader.
Eisenkot’s outlook differs from Netanyahu’s in one respect. Netanyahu has recently called India a “global powerhouse” as part of an effort to reduce Israel’s dependence on the United States. Eisenkot wants to reset ties with Western partners, especially the United States and Europe. He remains hardline on Iran and Hamas, however, and is not expected to distance Israel from a key strategic partner like India.
Stronger Western ties could in fact help India, experts say, since they may speed up the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Observers therefore expect continuity rather than disruption in bilateral relations, whoever leads in Jerusalem.