New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Israel for a two-day state visit, the second since he took office first in 2014.
Modi landed in Tel Aviv on Wednesday at the invitation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He was received at the airport by Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu.
In a post on X shortly after landing, Prime Minister Modi wrote: “Landed in Israel. I am extremely honoured to be received by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Mrs. Netanyahu at the airport. I look forward to engaging in bilateral discussions and fruitful outcomes that strengthen the India-Israel friendship.”
The visit, from 25 to 26 February, will focus on deepening the India-Israel Strategic Partnership. In his statement issued from New Delhi on 25 February, Prime Minister Modi had said:
“India and Israel share a robust and multifaceted Strategic Partnership that has witnessed remarkable growth and dynamism in recent years. I look forward to my discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu aimed at further strengthening our cooperation across various domains, including science and technology, innovation, agriculture, water management, technology, defence and security, trade and investment, as well as people-to-people ties. We will also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.”
The two leaders are expected to review progress in the partnership and identify new areas of collaboration. Modi will also call on President Isaac Herzog.
On Wednesday evening, Modi will address the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset – the first time an Indian Prime Minister will do so. In his departure statement he described the occasion as “a tribute to the strong parliamentary and democratic ties that bind our two nations”.
He added: “I also eagerly look forward to interacting with the members of the Indian diaspora who have for long been nurturing the India-Israel special friendship.”
In an earlier post on X announcing the visit, Modi stated: “Our nations share a robust and multifaceted Strategic Partnership. Ties have significantly strengthened in the last few years. I will be holding talks with PM Netanyahu, in which we will discuss ways to strengthen cooperation across diverse fields… This evening, I will be addressing the Israeli Parliament, Knesset… I will also interact with the Indian diaspora, who have made a big contribution in strengthening the India-Israel friendship.”
The official announcement from the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of External Affairs described the visit as an opportunity to “reaffirm the deep and long-standing strategic partnership between the two countries and will present an opportunity to review the common challenges as well as realign efforts towards achieving their shared vision for a robust partnership between two resilient democracies.”
In a further X post, Modi called the visit historic, saying he was confident it would “add new momentum to the bilateral friendship between our nations”.
Prime Minister Modi is due to conclude the visit on 26 February.
