India (Commonwealth Union)_ Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tel Aviv for a two-day state visit that further strengthened India’s steadily growing partnership with Israel. This is his second visit to the country in nine years, following his historic 2017 trip, the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister. That earlier visit marked a turning point in ties between the two nations. Over the past decade, India and Israel have built a strong relationship centered on defence, technology, agriculture, and innovation. Annual trade between the two countries has crossed $10 billion in recent years, reflecting expanding economic engagement. The current visit came at the invitation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who described Modi as “more than a friend.” Netanyahu thanked India for standing with Israel after the October 7, 2023 attacks. The trip combined symbolic gestures with substantial agreements, underlining the maturity of the relationship.
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Grand welcome for PM Modi
Prime Minister Modi was received with full ceremonial honors at Ben Gurion Airport. Netanyahu and his wife Sara greeted him on the tarmac, establishing a friendly tone for the meeting. The two leaders exchanged a hug that rapidly became a talking point, with Netanyahu lovingly referring to it as the “Modi hug,” describing it as a demonstration of real friendship. The greeting went beyond formal etiquette. Cultural performances incorporating Indian music and dance gave flavor to the event. Members of the Indian diaspora came with enthusiasm to meet the Prime Minister. Ahead of the visit, the Israeli Parliament building, the Knesset, was illuminated in the colors of the Indian flag. The gesture was described as a mark of respect for India and its leader. Modi responded by saying he looked forward to addressing Israeli lawmakers. Israeli media also gave the visit prominent coverage, signaling its importance for both countries.
Connecting with the Indian diaspora
At his hotel in Tel Aviv, Modi met members of the Indian community and the Jewish Indian diaspora. The gathering highlighted the strong people-to-people bonds between the two nations. Israel is home to around 85,000 Jews of Indian origin. During the 1950s and 1960s, many families migrated from Maharashtra, Kerala, and Kolkata. They continue to serve as an important cultural link between the two countries. During the meeting, community members expressed their happiness with India’s expanding worldwide impact and wished for further India-Israel cooperation. The occasion featured performances by Indian and Israeli artists, underscoring the expanding cultural links that complement formal ones.
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Historic address at the Knesset
One of the defining moments of the visit was Modi’s address to a special plenary session of the Knesset. He became the first Indian Prime Minister to address Israel’s Parliament. In his 30-minute speech, Modi spoke of shared civilizational values and the deepening friendship between India and Israel. He brought greetings from 1.4 billion Indians and described the relationship as rooted in “friendship, respect and partnership.” Lawmakers gave him a standing ovation. He condemned terrorism and referred to the October 2023 attacks, emphasizing that terror anywhere threatens peace everywhere.
At the same time, he spoke about the importance of dialogue and stability in the region. Modi reiterated India’s support for peace efforts in Gaza and expressed hope for a just and lasting resolution. Reflecting on history, he noted that he was born on September 17, 1950, the same day India formally recognized Israel. He said he had always felt drawn to the country and was pleased to return. Netanyahu, introducing him as “Narendra, my dear friend,” praised Modi as a strong global leader and a steadfast supporter of Israel.
Speaker of the Knesset Medal
In a special honor, Modi was awarded the “Speaker of the Knesset Medal,” the highest recognition given by Israel’s Parliament in recognition of his role in strengthening India–Israel ties. Accepting the award, he described it as a symbol of the enduring friendship between the two countries. He said the honor reflected shared democratic values and mutual respect. The ceremony underscored the depth of strategic trust that has developed in recent years.
Bilateral discussions: Elevating the strategic partnership
During delegation-level talks in Jerusalem, Modi and Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a “Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation and Prosperity.” The discussions covered defence and security, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, agriculture, water management, trade, education, labour mobility, and the blue economy. Accordingly, senior officials from both sides participated in the talks. Both leaders stressed collaborative development and manufacture of new defense technology, including AI-powered systems and laser-based platforms like Iron Beam. They also discussed a cybersecurity partnership, which included plans to establish an India-Israel Cyber Centre of Excellence in India. Additionally, the two countries agreed to accelerate negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which aims to significantly enhance bilateral trade. Israeli officials indicated that the first round of negotiations had recently concluded and expressed hope that the deal could be finalized by 2026.
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Major announcements
- A landmark announcement during the visit was the adoption of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) within Israel’s payment ecosystem. This move is expected to enhance digital transactions and deepen fintech cooperation.
- Both sides also agreed to increase collaboration in science and technology, elevating their Joint Committee on Science and Technology to the ministerial level. An initiative on critical and emerging technologies will be led by the two National Security Advisors.
- In agriculture, Modi announced the creation of “Villages of Excellence,” building on the success of existing Centres of Excellence across India developed with Israeli support. These projects focus on improving crop yields, water use, and farming techniques.
- The leaders also discussed cooperation in space between the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Israel Space Agency, as well as partnerships in semiconductors, quantum technologies, and artificial intelligence.
A wide range of agreements signed
In total, 27 Memorandums of Understanding were signed during the visit. These covered defence, cybersecurity, AI, semiconductors, quantum research, agriculture, fisheries, water management, health, education, and trade. Israel committed to welcoming up to 50,000 additional Indian workers over the next five years across sectors such as manufacturing, services, and hospitality. Agreements were also reached to improve labor mobility frameworks. Academic and institutional linkages were strengthened, including collaboration between universities and arbitration organizations. Financial authorities from both nations agreed to increase coordination, and new research grants were established. The agreements collectively signaled a comprehensive effort to broaden cooperation across multiple sectors.
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Private dinner with a personal touch
Diplomacy also took on a cultural flavor during a private dinner hosted in Jerusalem. The meal combined Indian and Israeli dishes, highlighting common traditions. The vegetarian smorgasbord at the King David Hotel followed stringent kosher rules and included Gujarati specialties such as thepla and dhokla, as well as dal, idli-sambar, and khichdi. Hummus and falafel, popular Israeli dishes, were also provided. The meticulously designed lunch represented Modi’s personal preferences while also honoring local traditions.
Innovation and cultural engagement
- Modi also attended an exhibition showcasing Israeli advances in artificial intelligence, agriculture, cybersecurity, healthcare, and quantum technologies. He invited Israeli companies to invest and manufacture in India, highlighting the country’s growing innovation ecosystem.
- In a lighter moment, he met the cast of the popular Israeli television series Fauda and shared a selfie. A special musical performance featuring Indian singer Dina Semte and Israel’s Shalva Band celebrated resilience and cultural harmony.
- Modi also met Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The two leaders planted an oak tree as a symbol of enduring friendship and discussed cooperation in education, innovation, agriculture, and connectivity.
- On the second day of his visit, Modi visited Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial. Accompanied by Netanyahu, he toured the Hall of Names and paid tribute to the victims. The solemn visit underscored India’s respect for Jewish history and its solidarity with Israel.
India–Israel relationship
India and Israel established full diplomatic ties in 1992. Since then, trade has grown from $200 million to billions of dollars annually. While diamonds, chemicals, and petroleum products once dominated trade, newer sectors such as electronics, medical equipment, and communications technology are gaining importance. India is now Israel’s second-largest trading partner in Asia. Although trade volumes dipped recently due to regional security challenges, both sides remain committed to expanding economic ties. The proposed Bilateral Investment Treaty and upcoming FTA are expected to give fresh momentum to investment and start-up collaboration. Strategic initiatives such as IMEC and I2U2 were also discussed as part of broader regional connectivity efforts.
Concluding the visit
As the two-day visit concluded, Netanyahu and his wife personally saw Modi off at Ben Gurion Airport. The leaders shared another warm hug before Modi departed for India. In a message after leaving, Modi thanked Israel for its warmth and hospitality. He expressed confidence that the India–Israel partnership would continue to reach new heights. The visit reinforced a relationship that has evolved from cautious engagement to a comprehensive strategic partnership. With expanded cooperation in defence, technology, trade, and people-to-people ties, India and Israel appear poised to enter a new chapter in their shared journey.
