PM Modi, Netanyahu Strengthen India-Israel Ties Ahead of Historic Visit

In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi replied to the Israeli PM, expressing his appreciation for the strong bond between India and Israel, highlighting the diverse nature of their bilateral relations.

PM Modi stated that India deeply values the friendship with Israel and that the friendship is built on "trust, innovation and a shared commitment to peace and progress."

The post read: "Thank you, my friend, Prime Minister Netanyahu. I fully agree with you on the bond between India and Israel as well as the diverse nature of our bilateral relations. India deeply values the enduring friendship with Israel, built on trust, innovation and a shared commitment to peace and progress. Looking forward to our discussions during my upcoming Israel visit."

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Israel as "historic", saying the partnership between the two countries continues to scale new heights across innovation, security and regional cooperation.

In a post on X, ahead of Modi's visit to Israel, Netanyahu described the Prime Minister as a "dear friend" and highlighted the growing strategic alignment between the two countries.

"This morning, at the opening of our Cabinet meeting, I spoke about the historic visit of my dear friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to Israel this coming Wednesday," he said.

Calling the relationship a "powerful alliance between two global leaders," Netanyahu said Israel and India are partners in innovation, security and a shared strategic vision.

"We are partners in innovation, security, and a shared strategic vision. Together, we are building an axis of nations committed to stability and progress," he said.

Referring to cooperation in emerging technologies and broader geopolitical coordination, Netanyahu added, "From AI to regional cooperation, our partnership continues to reach new heights."

He concluded the post by saying he looks forward to welcoming Modi in Israel.

"On Wednesday, the Prime Minister of India will arrive. He will deliver a speech at the Knesset (Israeli Parliament), and I am sure you will all be there. We will also hold an innovation event in Jerusalem and visit Yad Vashem together," Netanyahu said at the start of a meeting of government officials here.

His remarks were posted by the Israeli Prime Minister's office.

"This week, expression will be given to the special relationship that has been forged over recent years between Israel and the global power that is India, and between myself and its leader, Prime Minister Modi. We are personal friends; we speak frequently on the phone and visit one another. I have visited India, and Modi has visited here. We waded together in the waters of the Mediterranean, and much water has flowed since then in the Mediterranean, the Ganges, and the Jordan, though less in the Jordan," Netanyahu said.

The Israeli PM said that "the fabric of this relationship has grown tighter, and he is coming here so we can tighten it further through a series of decisions related to strengthening cooperation between our governments and countries. This includes economic, diplomatic and security cooperation."

Further regarding the diplomatic aspect, he said, "In the vision I see before me, we will create an entire system, essentially a 'hexagon' of alliances around or within the Middle East. This includes India, Arab nations, African nations, Mediterranean nations (Greece and Cyprus), and nations in Asia that I won't detail at the moment. I will present this in an organized manner."

"The intention here is to create an axis of nations that see eye-to-eye on the reality, challenges, and goals against the radical axes, both the radical Shia axis, which we have struck very hard, and the emerging radical Sunni axis. All of these nations share a different perception, and our cooperation can yield great results and, of course, ensure our resilience and our future, Netanyahu said.

During Prime Minister Modi's visit to Israel, Netanyahu said Israel will "promote cooperation in high-tech, AI, and quantum computing."

"I say AI and quantum not because they are the future, but because they are the present. We, of course, want to be among the world's leading nations in these fields", Netanyahu said.

- ANI