Jerusalem, February 25: The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as historic and said that he had never been so emotional before. During his address in the Israeli Parliament Knesset, Netanyahu called Modi a “great friend” and a “great leader on the world stage”.
He said, “Narendra, my dear friend, I am very emotional with your visit… I dare say that you are not only a friend, but like a brother.”
Praising the technical and strategic cooperation between the two countries, Netanyahu said that bilateral trade has doubled and cooperation has increased manifold in recent years.
In his speech, Netanyahu stated that India and Israel will form an “Iron Alliance” against the threat of “radical Islam .” He stated that both countries are stronger today than ever and believe in shared values—progress, human dignity, and mutual respect.
He thanked Prime Minister Modi for India’s support following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Netanyahu described Israel’s actions as a “defensive war,” saying it was a struggle for the future of humanity and truth. IMEC and New Agreements Netanyahu stated that India and Israel are jointly advancing the US-backed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) initiative. This project aims to connect India to Europe via sea and rail through the Middle East.
He stated that this corridor can only succeed if there are stable and secure countries along its route, and that there are no countries safer than India and Israel on this axis. Netanyahu also stated that several agreements will be implemented during the visit in areas such as tourism, culture, agriculture, water management, and immigration.
He described this as an important step towards peace and cooperation in accordance with the spirit of the Abraham Accords.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, along with his wife Sara Netanyahu, warmly welcomed PM Modi at Tel Aviv airport. This visit, taking place from February 25-26 at Netanyahu’s invitation, is considered to be a new direction for the India-Israel strategic partnership. Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, he was welcomed with a cultural program. The visit was met with considerable enthusiasm among the Indian expatriate community, who described it as a historic moment for the relationship between the two countries.
On the same occasion, blind Indian-origin singer Dina Semte performed for PM Modi. Dina, who hails from Manipur, said she was proud to perform before the Prime Minister and that music was a medium to connect people.
It is noteworthy that this is Modi’s second visit to Israel since becoming Prime Minister. Prior to this, he visited Israel in 2017, which was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister. Netanyahu’s visit to India in 2018 further strengthened relations.
This visit is being considered not just a bilateral event, but a part of the long, historic journey of India-Israel relations. Both countries are emphasizing increased cooperation in areas such as defense, technology, water management, agriculture, and innovation.
During his meeting with Netanyahu, PM Modi discussed possibilities for cooperation in technology, water management, agriculture, talent partnerships, and other areas.
This visit is being seen as a new strength in India-Israel relations and an expansion of the strategic partnership.