Netanyahu to discuss defence, space during January visit

New Delhi: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit India from January 14 to 19 and will visit New Delhi, Agra, Ahmedabad and Mumbai during his visit, the MEA announced on Thursday, adding that the Israeli PM would hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on January 15. The MEA said the gamut of bilateral ties include the sectors of defence, homeland security, agriculture, water, space. The Israel-Palestininan issue is also expected to figure in talks between the two PMs.

The MEA said Mr Netanyahu would land in New Delhi around noon on January 14. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will call on him in the afternoon and the two leaders are expected to hold deliberations. The next day, on January 15, Mr Netanyahu will hold wide-ranging talks with PM Modi. The two leaders will also attend a CEO forum later that day. On January 16, the Israeli PM will participate in the Raisina Dialogue conference. He will also visit Agra that day. On January 17, the Israeli PM will visit Gujarat’s largest city Ahmedabad and is expected to visit the Sabarmati Ashram. In Gujarat, the Israeli PM, accompanied by PM Modi, will also visit a “Center of Excellence” (in Agriculture) in Vadrad. The MEA said Mr Netanyahu will also visit Mumbai which he will reach in the evening of January 17 and attend a private function there. The Israeli embassy said that in Mumbai, Mr Netanyahu “will meet with Jewish community leaders and select members of the Indian business community”. The Israeli PM is also expected to pay a visit to Chabad House in Mumbai that was attacked by Pakistani terrorists during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack of 2008. There is also speculation that 11-year-old Israeli boy Moshe Holtzberg, whose parents were killed in Chabad House during the 26/11 terror attack when the boy was just two years old, may also visit Mumbai at the same time when the Israeli PM is in the city.

A Bollywood cultural function is also part of the visit. The Israeli embassy said Mr Netanyahu “will reach out to Bollywood in an exclusive ‘Shalom Boll-ywood’ event in Mumbai”.

In a statement on Thurs-day, the Israeli embassy said, “The embassy of Israel is proud to announ-ce the state visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to India. The Prime Minister will arrive in New Delhi on January 14 and depart from Mumbai on January 19... During his visit, the Prime Minister will hold meetings in New Delhi with President Kovind, Prime Minister Modi and minister of external affairs Swaraj... In Gujarat, the two PMs will visit the Center of Excellence in Vadrad and inaugurate a Center of Excellence for date palms in Bhuj via video conference.”

The Israeli embassy added, “In Mumbai, the PM will meet with Jewish community leaders... He will reach out to Bollyw-ood in an exclusive ‘Shal-om Bollywood’ event.”