Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warmly greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a dinner event, donning traditional Indian clothing, including a light grey Nehru jacket. In a video shared by Netanyahu, PM Modi acknowledged the gesture, commenting, “It’s an Indian dress.” The two leaders exchanged pleasantries and posed for photos before the dinner.
The upcoming agenda includes a joint visit to Yad Vashem and an extended bilateral meeting at the King David Hotel. Discussions will revolve around reviewing the India-Israel Strategic Partnership, focusing on enhancing cooperation in defense, science, technology, trade, and people-to-people exchanges. They will also discuss current regional and global affairs.
The visit is expected to witness the signing of several MoUs covering economic, security, and diplomatic sectors to boost collaboration between the two nations. India is moving towards a significant strategic partnership with Israel to acquire Iron Dome technology, a crucial part of India’s “Mission Sudarshan Chakra” or Project Kusha. Israel has offered to transfer this technology under the “Make in India” initiative for local production and integration into India’s air defense system.
Prime Minister Modi is also set to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog during his visit. He received a standing ovation at the Knesset, becoming the first Indian PM to address the Israeli Parliament. Modi expressed gratitude for being conferred the Medal of the Knesset, emphasizing the enduring friendship between India and Israel.
