January 2025 Indian Delegation to Israel
In January 2025, in partnership with an NGO in Israel, Shal-Om Initiative organized a 1-week visit to Israel for 12 Indian dignitaries, a diverse group of prominent personalities from all walks of life – the military, government, academia, media, think tanks, public policy organizations, and the social sector. The immersive experience gave the delegates exposure to multiple facets of Israeli life as it has been since the tragic events of October 7th and the ensuing war.
Swapan Dasgupta
Swapan Distinguished Fellow, India Foundation (Delhi), Former MP (Rajya Sabha), President, Khola Hawa (West Bengal), & Member, BJP National Executive.
Sifra Lentin
Jewish author (books, academic papers, news articles, etc) & Bombay History Fellow at Gateway House: Indian Council of Global Relations, one of India's leading think tanks.
Subuhi Khan
Subuhi is a lawyer (practiced in Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, & all lower courts & tribunals), TV news panelist & media personality, & convener of Rashtra Jagran Abhiyan
Lieutenant General Satish Dua
Lt General Dua is a highly decorated army veteran & hero of the highly successful Uri Surgical strikes among other achievements, & also author of 2 books on Indian military heroes.
Yusuf Unjhawala
Yusuf is researcher at leading Indian think tank, Thakshashila Institute, defense & geopolitics media commentator, & former founder & editor of Defense Forum India.
Snehesh Philip
Snehesh is the Defense and Strategic Affairs Editor at The Print, has won prestigious IVLP Fellowship of US State Department, & is the former Pakistan correspondent at Press Trust of India.
1-Week Immersive Exposure Visit to Israel
The delegation toured Jerusalem and Tel Aviv visiting important historical sites, the Knesset, and museums, and met with activists, academics, and policymakers. They also visited a Bedouin village, the Gaza border, the Nova festival site, and Kibbutz Nir Oz, which had been besieged on October 7. Finally, they met the relative of a hostage in Hostage Square – while the delegates were with Efrat, the niece of Gadi Moses, she received the wonderful news that her Uncle was to be released the following day!
Omer Ghazi
Omer is a musician, writer (authored book & contributing writer at Firstpost, News18, & Australia Today), & think tank researcher at Citizens' Foundation for Policy Solutions.
Lieutenant General Rajendra Nimbhorkar
Lt Gen Nimbhorkar is a highly decorated army veteran & hero of the Kargil War & highly secret & successful surgical strikes eliminating Pakistani terrorist camps.
Devang Bhatt
Devang is a Journalist, celebrity host, & TEDx speaker & Channel Head of GTPL - India's largest MSO of Digital Cable TV services with a reach in over 23 Indian states.
Dr Arif Hussain Theruvath
Dr Hussain is a medical doctor by profession, major South Indian influencer with half a million YouTube subscribers, & founder of NRC (Non-Religious Citizens) movement.
Dr Makarand Paranjape
Dr Paranjape is a poet, author (several books, columns in newspapers, & hundreds of papers), & academic (former JNU professor & visitor to other universities).
Neha Khanna
Neha is a Journalist, media personality, & news anchor (career at BBC, TV9, Wion, NewsX, NDTV, etc).
07
October
Up Close and Personal with Israel’s War in Gaza
Watch video testimonials of delegates who visited the Gaza border and sites besieged on October 7th
Yusuf Unjhawala at the Nova Festival Site
Sifra Lentin in a Bedouin Village
2025
January
What our delegates had to say about their exposure visit to Israel
Watch video testimonials of delegates who spent a week in Israel understanding its history and the current conflict.
Snehesh Alex Philip, Defense and Strategic Affairs Editor at The Print
Subuhi Khan at Kibbutz Nir Oz
Omer Ghazi in a at Nova Festival Site
