Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surprised his friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi by donning traditional Indian attire for a dinner together on Wednesday.
In a tweet in Hindi, Netanyahu said: “Before our dinner together, I surprised my friend Prime Minister Modi by wearing traditional Indian clothing.”
The Israeli prime minister wore a Nehru jacket to the dinner, ditching his usual tie and jacket.
Read also | Netanyahu calls for ‘Modi hug’ in Knesset speech – Watch
Earlier on Wednesday, Netanyahu described Modi as “more than a friend” and praised the Indian leader, thanking him for standing by Israel after the dastardly attack on October 7, 2023.
Modi was one of the first world leaders to condemn the deadly attacks by Hamas, in which nearly 1,200 Israelis were killed and about 250 kidnapped.
“Prime ministers and heads of state come to the Knesset and it is always an exciting moment for all of us. But my dear friend Narendra, I am especially touched by your visit,” an emotional Netanyahu said at the start of his speech. “You are a great friend to Israel and a great leader on the world stage…Narendra, you are more than a friend. You are a brother.”
Referring to a viral picture of the two leaders walking barefoot on the ocean during Modi’s first visit as prime minister to Israel in 2017, Netanyahu said: “We took off our shoes and waded in the ocean. We didn’t walk on water, but we did miracles.”
Read also | Sara Netanyahu receives PM Modi in Tel Aviv: Know about her family, career and much more
The personal chemistry between the two leaders was also visible in the Knesset, with a long hug and a standing ovation from the assembled crowd and lawmakers.
“We hugged at the airport today. It’s called the Modi hug. I want to return the hug from every Knesset member. It represents the warmth between us,” Netanyahu said.
Describing India as a “gigantic country” and his own country also backed by a “huge power”, the Israeli prime minister said the “relationship is a huge force multiplier”.
Pledged to take bilateral ties to “great heights”, the Israeli prime minister said he would work to strengthen personal and diplomatic relations, deepen cooperation in defense, economy, trade, cyber, artificial intelligence and space technology and work towards the successful implementation of the ambitious IMEC project.
Read also | ‘Powerful alliance’: Netanyahu calls PM Modi’s visit to Israel ‘historic’
PM Modi shared the Knesset medal with the Speaker
The Israeli Parliament awarded Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the “Speaker of the Knesset” medal. This is the Knesset’s highest honor.
The award was given in recognition of Prime Minister Modi’s “outstanding contribution through his personal leadership” to strengthening the strategic relationship between India and Israel.
“Peak of Israeli-Indian Relations”
Describing Modi’s visit as a “highlight in our relations”, Reuven Azar, Israel’s ambassador to India, said the leaders held wide-ranging talks.
In an interview with ANI, Azar said, “That was really the pinnacle of our relations… The people of Israel are thrilled that PM Modi is here. He spoke from the heart on behalf of the people of India…”
“One of the main things we want to do in the economic field is not only to sign the free trade agreement that we are negotiating, but also to connect the financial sectors of the two countries,” he said.
Azar said the agreements between India and Israel would be announced on Thursday.
