PM Modi departs for two day visit to Israel, to address Knesset later today

During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will meet Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. The two leaders will review the significant progress made in India - Israel Strategic Partnership, and discuss further opportunities in various areas of cooperation, including science and technology, innovation, defence and security, agriculture, water management, trade and economy, and people to people exchanges. The leaders are also expected to exchange perspectives on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The Prime Minister will also call on Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel. This visit will reaffirm the deep and long-standing strategic partnership between the two countries and will present an opportunity to review the common challenges as well as realign efforts towards achieving their shared vision for a robust partnership between two resilient democracies.

Reflecting the significance of the diplomatic engagement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu termed the upcoming visit "historic", stating that the partnership continues to scale new heights.

Netanyahu described Prime Minister Modi 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 noted that Israel and India are partners in innovation, security, and a shared strategic vision.

"Together, we are building an axis of nations committed to stability and progress," he added, specifically referring to cooperation in emerging technologies and broader geopolitical coordination.

Providing further details on the itinerary, Netanyahu confirmed that the Prime Minister will arrive on Wednesday and deliver a speech at the Knesset (Israeli Parliament).The visit will also include an innovation event in Jerusalem and a joint visit to Yad Vashem (Israel's official memorial institution to the victims of the Holocaust).

Highlighting their personal bond, Netanyahu recalled, "We are personal friends; we speak frequently on the phone and visit one another. We waded together in the waters of the Mediterranean, and much water has flowed since then."

The Israeli Prime Minister emphasised that the fabric of the relationship will be tightened further through decisions related to economic, diplomatic, and security cooperation.

Regarding the diplomatic aspect, Netanyahu detailed a vision to create a "hexagon" of alliances, including India, Arab nations, African nations, and Mediterranean nations, to counter radical axes.

He further specified that the visit will promote cooperation in high-tech, AI, and quantum computing to ensure both nations remain among the world's leaders in these fields. (ANI)