Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tel Aviv, Israel on Wednesday for his two-day state visit at the invitation of his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, aimed at further deepening the “robust and multifaceted strategic partnership” between the two countries.
Netanyahu accompanied by his wife Sara Netanyahuhe personally received PM Modi at Ben Gurion Airport, reflecting the close personal relationship between the two leaders. The two prime ministers warmly embraced each other upon arrival.
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The visit to Israel, Modi’s second as Indian prime minister, comes at a time of rising tensions between the US and Iran as the Pentagon mobilizes its military assets in the region. Iran and the US are expected to hold new talks on Iran’s nuclear program in Geneva on Thursday.
Diplomatic relations between India and Israel
India recognized the state of Israel soon after its creation in 1948.
Full diplomatic relations between India and Israel were established in 1992. Days before that, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat visited New Delhi. Arafat he famously told a press conference in Delhi that “exchange of ambassadors and recognition (of Israel) are acts of sovereignty in which I cannot interfere… I respect whatever choice the Indian government makes”.
The relationship of military ties between the two nations has also evolved over the years. During the 1999 Kargil War, Israel learned to send precision bombs that the Indian Air Force needed. A series of visits by leaders from both sides followed.
Union External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh led India’s first ever bilateral visit to Israel in 2000. Home Minister LK Advani also visited. Visit of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in September 2003.
During the UPA years, Union External Affairs Minister SM Krishna also visited Israel in 2012.
Before Narendra Modi took office as Prime Minister in 2014, relations between India and Israel were modest, focusing mainly on agriculture and technical cooperation.
Years of Modi
However, ties between India and Israel deepened after Narendra Modi took office in 2014. Modi and Netanyahu first met in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September 2014.
In November 2014, the then Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited Israel. President Pranab Mukherjee visited Israel in October 2015, the first ever presidential visit from India. Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also visited Israel in January 2016.
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In 2017, Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel. Netanyahu reciprocated by visiting India in 2018. The two leaders called each other “friend”.
Modi, however, missed a stop in Palestine that was part of previous official visits. This time too, Modi is making a separate visit to Tel Aviv and is not traveling to Palestine.
Netanyahu was re-elected to a sixth term as Israeli prime minister three years ago; he and Modi spoke on the phone at least 10 times. The two countries signed defense pacts and started free trade talks in November last year.
Israel’s key Asian trading partners
Apart from being a key defense and security partner, Israel is also an important economic partner in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
Defense, security, agriculture, water management, science and technology, trade, economy and people-to-people relations are key areas of cooperation between the two nations today.
India is one of Israel’s key Asian trading partners and ranks second among Asian countries in merchandise trade. In fiscal year 2024-25, India-Israel merchandise trade totaled about $3.62-3.75 billion ₹340 billion), with India exporting goods worth about $2.1 billion and importing about $1.5-1.6 billion from Israel.
Ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations and recent investment treaties aim to deepen economic ties and increase this number substantially in the coming years.
Hamas attack on October 7
In September 2023, grand plans were unveiled in New Delhi for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor – to link railways, ports, electricity, data networks and pipelines, including through Saudi Arabia and Israel.
These plans were halted by the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas, to which Israel responded with a devastating war in the Gaza Strip.
“What happened on October 7 was received with shock and horror in India, so the support for Israel was swift, immediate and massive,” Ashok Malik, head of New Delhi-based strategy consultancy The Asia Group, told AFP.
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He added that the India-Israel relationship that Modi is “developing with this visit” stems from more than just strategic alignment on issues like terrorism.
“Israel can contribute a lot in terms of innovative technologies, including agriculture, technology and economic partnerships, and of course defense… This is completely independent of the Palestinian issue,” Malik said.
Criticism at home
Months after his visit to Israel in 2017, Modi traveled to Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority. However, Prime Minister Modi’s current visit has drawn criticism at home.
This is completely independent of the Palestinian issue.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Wednesday that she hopes Prime Minister Modi will mention the killing of “thousands of innocent men, women and children in Gaza” when he addresses Israel’s parliament, the Knesset.
The CPI(M) strongly opposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel.
“The visit comes at a time when Israel is waging a genocidal war in Gaza. Modi’s visit is a betrayal of the Palestinian cause and legitimizes the murderous Netanyahu regime,” the leftist party said in a statement.
Key things
- Relations between India and Israel have deepened significantly since the start of Modi’s tenure in 2014.
- The visit will strengthen key areas of cooperation including defence, technology and trade.
- Despite tensions surrounding the Palestinian issue, Modi’s focus remains on strengthening bilateral ties.
