India-Israeli partnership is made in heaven: Netanyahu

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, January 18

Calling the partnership between India and Israel as “made in heaven”, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today called upon the business communities of both countries to work together.

Addressing the India-Israel business summit here during the last leg of his four-day visit to the country, Netanyahu said both countries shared the values of love for humanity, democracy and freedom.

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“We are the two oldest cultures on earth. We are democracies, we share our love for freedom and we share our love for humanity. We are truly your partners,” the Israeli PM said. Urging Indian business to invest in Israel, Netanyahu likened the similarities between the working of governments of both countries.

“When I spoke to Prime Minister Modi I saw that he understands innovation, the need to simplify…. (removing) barriers to competition,” Netanyahu said. He called for “lower, simple and easy taxes” to help business. Netanyahu said he had earlier undertaken these measures which ensured that Israel climbed 12 spots in the World Bank’s index Ease of Doing Business to reach the 15th position.

The Israeli PM added that he “loses sleep” over countries like the US, Singapore and Switzerland, which outrank Israel in the rankings. He added that Israel aimed to reach within the top 10 spots in the Ease of Doing Business rankings. Netanyahu, who attended a power breakfast session with top Indian industrialists, said business should be allowed to carry out innovations without any hindrance. “We have to bring the talents of Indians and Israelis together,” Netanyahu said, referring to the collaborative work done by Israelis and Indians in Silicon Valley.

Later in the day, Netanyahu paid tributes to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks at the Taj Mahal hotel. He then visited the Nariman House nearby where he met, among others, 11-year-old Moshe Holtzberg who survived the massacre by the terrorists. His parents, Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivka, were among those killed in the 2008 attacks.