Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Jerusalem to discuss bilateral cooperation in technology, innovation, AI, critical minerals, defense, security, trade, economy, labor mobility, education, blue economy, agriculture, and health. The two leaders announced the elevation of ties to ‘India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation, and Prosperity’. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and other officials were present at the meeting.
Both countries agreed to elevate the Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) on Science and Technology to the Ministerial level. They also decided to collaborate in Critical and Emerging Technologies led by National Security Advisors, launch a financial dialogue, tech-gateway initiative, and 20 Joint Fellowships in Agricultural Research. Additionally, plans were made to increase the contribution of both sides for Joint Research Calls, enhance the quota of Indian workers to 50,000 over the next five years, establish an India-Israel Academic Cooperation Forum, and form an India-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed various aspects of their bilateral relationship, including technology, innovation, AI, critical minerals, defense, security, trade, economy, labor mobility, education, blue economy, agriculture, and health. They also addressed regional and global issues. The leaders emphasized the importance of the enhanced relationship by announcing the elevation to India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation, and Prosperity. Several outcomes were finalized in areas such as technology, science, trade, finance, AI, agriculture, blue economy, labor mobility, education, and culture.
India and Israel exchanged several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering cooperation in geophysical exploration, development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex in Gujarat, Cultural Exchange Programme, UPI implementation, establishment of the India-Israel Innovation Centre for Agriculture, and more. The two countries also signed agreements on Horizon Scanning, Fisheries and Aquaculture, financial services, labor mobility, education through AI, commercial arbitration, university collaborations, cyber center of excellence, and cooperation in AI.
Prime Minister Modi visited the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem, accompanied by Israeli PM Netanyahu and Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan. The visit included a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial, a tour of the Book of Names containing 4.8 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, and a memorial ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance. PM Modi also signed the Yad Vashem guest book, marking his second visit to the memorial after 2017.
