Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is on the second day of his two-day visit to Israel today, with key engagements including bilateral meetings and a visit to the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem, according to a report by Livemint.
PM Modi, who last visited Israel in 2017, is the second Indian Prime Minister to travel to the country. His Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, had reciprocated with a visit to India in 2018.
According to Livemint, Thursday’s schedule includes:
- Visit to Yad Vashem
- Bilateral engagement with Israeli President Isaac Herzog
- Delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
- Exchange of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and joint press statements
- Interaction with prominent members of the Indian-Jewish community
PM Modi is also expected to visit an exhibition showcasing Israeli technologies and innovations and interact with members of the Indian diaspora.On the first day of the visit, PM Modi addressed the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, where he pledged “friendship, respect and partnership” with Israel. “Let us ensure that the friendship between India and Israel remains a source of strength in an uncertain world,” he said in a 30-minute speech that received a standing ovation from lawmakers.
Netanyahu, accompanied by his wife Sara Netanyahu, personally received Modi at Ben Gurion Airport. The two leaders exchanged a hug on arrival, reflecting the close rapport between them.
The visit comes after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire under the ‘Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict’ last October. It also follows India joining more than 100 nations last week in condemning Israel’s expansion in the West Bank.
Strategic and economic backdrop
The visit takes place amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, with the Pentagon mobilising military assets in the region and fresh talks expected in Geneva over Iran’s nuclear programme.
India-Israel ties have strengthened significantly since PM Modi took office in 2014. In 2017, he became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel, marking a shift in India’s approach, which had historically supported the Palestinian cause. The two leaders have spoken multiple times over the past three years and have advanced cooperation in defence and trade.
Israel is an important economic partner for India, including within the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor framework. Key areas of cooperation include defence, security, agriculture, water management, science and technology, trade, and people-to-people ties.
