New Delhi: After returning from this three-nation tour of Portugal, the United States and Holland on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Israel from July 4 to 6. The dates were confirmed by the Israeli embassy in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Mr Modi will be received personally at the airport on July 4 by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who will later that day host a dinner for Mr Modi. Mr Netanyahu will accompany Mr Modi to most events during his stay in Israel, including the Indian community reception on July 5 after their official talks, when the two leaders will explore ways to boost cooperation in key strategic areas.
The two sides are also likely to sign several agreements. Besides more cooperation in the water and agriculture sectors, the two will also discuss ways to strengthen people-to-people contacts, air links and investments.
During the visit, a deal with the Uttar Pradesh government is likely to be signed to clean up a patch of the Ganga, apart from setting up an industrial research and development fund of $40 million, Israeli ambassador to India Daniel Carmon said at a briefing for the media.
The visit will be a keenly-watched one, given the billions of dollars worth of sophisticated defence equipment and weaponry India has purchased over the past decade and is in the process of acquiring from the Jewish State. India has also been pursuing a delicate balancing act in its ties between Israel and Palestine.
In a statement, the Israeli embassy said: “Israel warmly welcomes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his visit to Israel at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. The visit will take place July 4th-6th, will include a call on the Israeli President, Reuven Rivlin, and a working meeting and dinner with the Israeli PM. It will also include high-level bilateral meetings and various other components which reflect the fabric of Indo-Israeli relations.”
The Israeli embassy further said: “This significant visit, the first of an Indian Prime Minister to Israel, takes place on the backdrop of marking 25 years of diplomatic relations between India and Israel, and will further upgrade the ever-growing partnership between the two countries.”
In a significant assertion in the presence of visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas just last month, Prime Minister Modi had said “India has been unwavering in its support of the Palestinian cause”, but had added that New Delhi hopes to see a “sovereign, independent, united and viable Palestine co-existing peacefully with Israel”. The statement was seen by observers as a balancing act between Palestine and the Jewish state. At the same time, the Modi government has continued the Nehruvian policy of giving support to the Palestinian cause. India also called for “early resumption of talks between the Palestinian and Israeli sides to move towards finding a comprehensive resolution”.
