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India, Israel take ties beyond defence

NEW DELHI:India and Israel today gave shape to an historic partnership as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu held talks for about four hours.

India, Israel take ties beyond defence

PM Narendra Modi with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in Jerusalem. PTI



Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 5

India and Israel today gave shape to an historic partnership as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu held talks for about four hours.

At the end of the dialogue, seven agreements were signed between the two countries even as they reinforced their common commitment to fighting the forces of terrorism. “India has suffered firsthand due to the violence and hatred spread by terror, so has Israel. PM Netanyahu and I have agreed to do much more together to protect our strategic interests and also cooperate to fight growing radicalisation,” PM Modi said. 

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Addressing media after the talks, Netanyahu referred to the India-Israel relationship as “one made in heaven”. “This is a marriage made in heaven, but we are implementing it here on earth,” he said.

Speaking at the signing of the Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), Netanyahu said, “We are making history together with my friend PM Modi and this is deeply moving moment for me.” 

“Our talks focused on not just areas of bilateral opportunities but also how our cooperation can help the cause of global peace and stability,” PM Modi said.

The seven MoUs signed between the two countries includes a bilateral Technology Innovation Fund worth $40 million for research in industrial development. The two countries also decided to work together to reform water utility and the agriculture sector in India. It was also a sign that the two countries intend to take their relationship forward to other sectors rather than keeping it limited to a defence and security partnership. Earlier in the day, PM Modi called on Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and once again displayed his delight for being in Israel. 

Addressing the Indian diaspora, Modi said people of Indian origin in Israel would get the Overseas Citizen of India cards even if they had undergone compulsory army service in Israel. He also announced direct flights between Delhi, Mumbai and Tel Aviv.

While India has maintained that its relations with both Israel and Palestine stand on their own, Palestinian Deputy Foreign Minister Tasir Jaradat expressed his unhappiness to Al Jazeera today. “We expected him [Modi] to visit both Israel and Palestine.” He added that to “play an important role between the two sides and to be able to spread the message of peace, one should visit both.” 

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