The Prime Minister expressed his eagerness for discussions with his Israeli counterpart to strengthen cooperation across various sectors. ….reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday arrived in Tel Aviv, Israel, 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.
PM Modi, earlier today, embarked on his state visit to Israel from February 25 to February 26 at the invitation of Netanyahu.
Netanyahu, accompanied by his wife Sara Netanyahu, personally received Prime Minister Modi at the Ben Gurion Airport, reflecting the close personal rapport shared by the two leaders. The two Prime Ministers exchanged a warm hug upon arrival.
Ahead of his departure, PM Modi, in a statement, described the visit as an opportunity to further deepen the two nations’ “robust and multifaceted Strategic Partnership.”
“At the invitation of my dear friend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, I will be undertaking a State Visit to Israel from 25-26 February 2026,” the statement read.
“India and Israel share a robust and multifaceted Strategic Partnership that has witnessed remarkable growth and dynamism in recent years,” the statement added, highlighting the trajectory of bilateral ties between the two nations.
The Prime Minister stated that he is looking forward to discussions with his Israeli counterpart aimed at expanding cooperation across various sectors.
The streets of Jerusalem carried a familiar buzz with tricolours tucked into shopfronts, community leaders coordinating welcome gatherings, and conversations in Hindi echoing through neighbourhoods where the Indian community forms a visible presence ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival.
At a newspaper kiosk, an Israeli resident was seen reading this morning’s The Jerusalem Post. The Israeli Newspaper’s front page shows a photo of the Prime Minister waving his hands, along with feature stories based on his visit to Israel and India-Israel ties.
One headline read “Welcome, Modi,” while another one read “New Delhi’s burgeoning partnership with Jerusalem”.
During his visit, the PM is scheduled to meet President Isaac Herzog and would also address the Knesset, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do so.
Ahead of his address at the Israeli Parliament – Knesset, PM Modi will hold a brief meeting with Netanyahu today.
“I will also have the honour of becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Israeli Parliament, Knesset, an occasion that would be a tribute to the strong parliamentary and democratic ties that bind our two nations,” he said.
The Prime Minister said he also looks forward to engaging with the Indian diaspora there, whom he credited with strengthening bilateral goodwill.
Ahead of his visit, Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his eagerness, saying that the country and its people look forward to welcoming him.
In a post on X, Herzog, sharing PM Modi’s departure statement ahead of his visit, extended a warm message to the Prime Minister, underlining the close ties between the two nations.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the State of Israel and the people of Israel look forward to welcoming you to Israel,” Herzog stated in his post.
As Jerusalem prepares to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his high-profile visit, the vibrant Indian diaspora in Israel is buzzing with palpable excitement.
For many Indian-origin Jews and expatriates, Prime Minister Modi’s arrival signifies a deepening of the historical and strategic “bond” between the two nations, a relationship they view with immense pride. Speaking to ANI, members of the community expressed their deep-rooted dual identity, maintaining that while they have built lives in Israel, their hearts remain firmly Indian.
“I am very connected with our Indian Embassy, and we are very happy that Prime Minister Modi has come here. We are very proud that he has such a good relationship with our Israel, our fatherland. May this relationship continue and our friendship continue,” said one member of the community. “We have been in Israel for many years, but our heart is still Indian.”
This sentiment of a shared security and strategic vision was also echoed by the diaspora, particularly regarding regional challenges. “Because of the situation, Israel and India should be very strong friends,” another resident noted. “Whatever the Pakistan issues, we have to learn from Israel how to deal, how to fight.”
Abraham Samson, who moved to Israel from Mumbai nine years ago, described himself as a staunch follower of Prime Minister Modi. “We are very, very proud of him, that he is a very good Prime Minister, and he’s an honest man. God bless him,” Samson said.
The PM’s visit also serves as a bridge to a rich, multicultural history. Ruth Greenfield, daughter of Joshua Moses Benjamin, the former Chief Architect of the Government of India, highlighted the ongoing efforts to preserve the Indian-Jewish legacy through a dedicated heritage centre.
“We represent an Indian-Jewish heritage centre that we are building here in Israel because of our proud heritage that we had in India. I’m from the Bene-Israel community from Delhi,” Greenfield told ANI.
She elaborated on the historical ties, mentioning the Jam Sahib of Jamnagar, who saved Polish Jewish refugees during World War II. “We have tracked down some of the Jews who were living here, who were at the camp where the Maharaja had saved them in Jamnagar. We have a very rich heritage. I’ve got children, grandchildren, but we can’t forget India. You cannot take India out of us.”
Representing the diverse mosaic of the Indian diaspora, Deepankar Lama of the Bharatiya Gorkha Association of Israel expressed his gratitude to the Indian Embassy for the opportunity to welcome Prime Minister Modi.
“I would like to thank our Prime Minister for the way you are working for the country. When we are sitting in Israel and making our country proud, you give us courage,” Lama said.
