Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu bid farewell to PM Narendra Modi at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv as the visiting leader concluded his two-day State Visit to the country. PM Modi and Netanyahu shared a warm hug and conversation before PM Modi boarded the plane. The two leaders had earlier agreed to elevate ties to a Special Strategic Partnership during their discussions.
Netanyahu and the First Lady had welcomed PM Modi on the tarmac as he landed in the country for his second landmark visit. The leaders discussed enhancing cooperation between India and Israel, focusing on areas like economic and trade linkages. PM Modi highlighted agriculture as a key sector where the two nations are closely collaborating, aiming to increase the number of Centres of Excellence to benefit farmers.
During the visit, PM Modi also met the star cast of the Jewish spy thriller series Fauda, sharing a selfie with them. He engaged in various engagements, including calling on Israel President Isaac Herzog to explore ways to enhance cooperation in education, start-ups, innovation, tech, and connectivity. PM Modi and Herzog planted a tree in the Presidential Gardens under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative, symbolizing the warm ties between the two nations.
Before meeting the Israeli President, PM Modi visited the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem, paying tribute to the Holocaust victims. He toured the Book of Names, a memorial for 4.8 million Jewish victims, and participated in a memorial ceremony. PM Modi also addressed a Special Plenary of the Knesset in Jerusalem, marking the first such address by an Indian Prime Minister at the Israeli parliament.
