 "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks as his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi looks on during a signing of agreements ceremony at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, on January 15, 2018. Reuters File")
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Israel on a two-day visit from February 25 to 26, PTI reported citing sources. The programme is being finalised, and Modi is expected to address the Knesset, where discussions are likely to cover key bilateral and regional issues.
Netanyahu highlights strong ties
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Modi is expected to visit next week and described India–Israel relations as robust.
“Parliament address on the anvil. Who’s coming here next week? Narendra Modi. Tremendous alliance between Israel and India, and we are going to discuss all sorts of cooperation,” Netanyahu said.
PM Modi’s second visit to Israel
The trip will mark Modi’s second visit to Israel, following his landmark July 2017 visit — the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister to the country.
The visit comes amid sustained ministerial exchanges between the two countries. Over the past year, Israeli ministers Haim Katz, Nir Barkat, Avi Dichter and Bezalel Smotrich visited India as both sides worked to advance negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement.
During Smotrich’s visit, the two countries signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty and later agreed on Terms of Reference for an FTA during Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s visit to Israel in November.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Israel in December, meeting Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Barkat.
Expanding defence and technology cooperation
In November, India and Israel signed an agreement to deepen cooperation in defence, industry and technology, including the sharing of advanced systems to support joint development and production.
The India–Israel Joint Working Group on defence held its annual meeting in Tel Aviv, reviewing collaboration in joint planning, training, defence industrial partnerships, research and development, artificial intelligence, cyber security and technological innovation.
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View AllStrategic partnership in focus
Netanyahu announced Modi’s upcoming visit while addressing the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations, describing India and Israel as strong strategic partners with expanding cooperation.
Sources cited in the report said the short visit is expected to carry significant diplomatic weight, reflecting the deepening strategic partnership and broadening engagement between the two countries.