The paradigm shift

Significantly, even PM Vajpayee did not bring up any references to old friend Yasser Arafat at the talks with Sharon, only speaking in general terms about getting back to the Middle East peace process.

Sharon 038; Co. seemed gratified about the subtle shift in positions in South Block, especially about the end of moralising that India has often been wont to do on the international high table.

Drips cast spell on Naidu

Sharon couldn8217;t go himself so he sent off his Agriculture minister Israel Katz to the Pusa Institute to offer further expertise in drip irrigation and the conservation of water which the Israelis have raised to an art form. Clearly, Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also thinks so. Naidu is believed to be off to Israel within the next few days to study micro-irrigation in detail.

Capital confusion

Oh Jerusalem? Or is it Tel Aviv? Israelis accompanying Sharon are horrified that India continues to refer to the latter as the capital, pointing out that it was never that not even for a day and that the beautiful old city of Jerusalem has retained that prerogative since independence in 1948.

The Israelis refuse to be sobered down when it was gently pointed out to them that 8216;8216;Jerusalem8217;8217; remained an 8216;8216;occupied8217;8217; city, of course depending to whom you spoke to, and that parts of its territory had been 8216;8216;annexed8217;8217; by the Israelis themselves. But the Israelis are not convinced, disdaining the continued Indian use as a hangover from the Raj. Considering that the Indian establishment has sought to flatter Ariel Sharon by putting out this incredible red carpet welcome, they said, the use of Tel Aviv almost smacks of unnecessary hostility.

Gold medal for diplomacy

Anand Mahindra of CII set the ball rolling at the FICCI-CII business meet this afternoon, speaking of how the Hindi movie Dil To Paagal Hai had set Israel rocking. Then Jaswant Singh took over, describing the obstructive US and Indian bureaucracies as ones deserving of gold medals he should know.

So why would Ariel Sharon be left behind? Picking up Singh8217;s thread, Sharon promised to take the bilateral relationship to new heights. Then he asked, 8216;8216;Can there be two gold medals for such bureaucracies?8230;My country deserves one too!8217;8217;