Modi, Netanyahu stroll by Olga Beach in Israel, internet goes crazy about 'budding bromance'

Jerusalem: A beach stroll by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu caused online waves on Thursday, with the two men seen wading barefoot into the surf together.

The beach trip came on the last day of Modi’s visit to Israel, the first-ever by an Indian prime minister. They had gone to the beach to see a demonstration of a mobile water desalination unit.

It was closed to journalists, but images and video were distributed by the Israeli government showing the two men walking barefoot together into the water at Olga beach in northern Israel.

אין כמו ללכת לים עם חברים!

There's nothing like going to the beach with friends!@narendramodi pic.twitter.com/bmVNbQNdgt

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) July 6, 2017

Israel leads the 🌎 in water ♻️& desalination. We'll share our technology with India & provide clean water for millions. I'm proud of Israel! pic.twitter.com/DTY4BQ8RdU

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) July 6, 2017

Some on social media took Netanyahu to task for not sufficiently rolling up his trousers, with images showing them getting wet. Others joked about a budding “bromance”.

Don't worry about your trousers merey dost, bheegney do. Look at me! Olga Beach #ModiInIsrael pic.twitter.com/haJurTY1CZ

— Kanchan Gupta 🇮🇳 (@KanchanGupta) July 6, 2017

Even Israelis have no clue how to dress up for the beach. #ModiInIsrael #Modi #Netanyahu pic.twitter.com/pkUKoHJrXJ

— Amar (@amarvanee) July 6, 2017

When your School principle Asked. “Nails dikhao” pic.twitter.com/j4VLzdtIo2

— DJ (@PJcrackerr) July 6, 2017

Close Enough 😂😂 #ModiInIsrael pic.twitter.com/81AAwF9OA2

— Subrat Saurabh (@subratsaurabh) July 6, 2017

Meanwhile, the Bibi-Modi love-affair-cum-state-visit continues on Mediterranean beach #ModiInIsrael pic.twitter.com/pvInYB3qwM

— Noga Tarnopolsky נגה טרנופולסקי نوغا ترنوبولسكي💙 (@NTarnopolsky) July 6, 2017

Beach Beach Mein ... Jab Harry Met Sejal @ Olga Beach! #IndiaIsraelStartup pic.twitter.com/s8S42hOA4O

— Sugandh Rakha (@sugandh) July 6, 2017

They later drove together in the mobile water desalination unit — which looked like a dune buggy — and sipped samples from wine glasses, even toasting before they did.

PM @narendramodi and @IsraeliPM @netanyahu attend a demonstration of Gal-Mobile water filtration plant at Olga Beach, #Israel 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/QEyNwWp5Jg

— PIB India (@PIB_India) July 6, 2017

Modi and Netanyahu have sought to extend Indian-Israeli cooperation beyond the billions of dollars in defence deals between them during the three-day visit.

The two leaders presented a series of agreements for cooperation on satellite technology, water and agriculture, as well as the creation of a $40 million innovation fund.

Israel already sells to India an average of $1 billion per year in military equipment. The country has also excelled at water and agriculture technology, which India has shown an interest in.

Modi’s visit marks 25 years since India and Israel established diplomatic relations.

With inputs from AFP