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Netanyahu awaits Modi with open arms as PM’s three-day Israel visit begins on July 4

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Israel from 4-6 July at the invitation of his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, it…

Netanyahu awaits Modi with open arms as PM’s three-day Israel visit begins on July 4

Narendra Modi (PHOTO: AFP)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Israel from 4-6 July at the invitation of his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, it was officially announced here on Wednesday. This would be the first-ever visit by an Indian PM to the Jewish nation, with which India established diplomatic ties in 1992.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Modi would have detailed discussions with Netanyahu on all matters of mutual interest during the visit. He would also meet Israeli President Rouven Rivlin and other leaders during the visit, which would be keenly watched not only in neighbouring Pakistan but the entire Islamic world.

Elements of his programme in Israel, as announced by the MEA, include homage to Indian soldiers at the Indian Cemetery in Haifa and address to the Indian community at an event in Tel Aviv.

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The relationship between India and Israel has gone from strength to strength ever since the two countries established diplomatic ties, particularly in areas like defence, security, counter-terrorism and agriculture. The visit to Israel will take place within ten days of Modi’s meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington. Like with many other world leaders, Modi has established a personal rapport with his Israeli counterpart Netanyahu, who had earlier this week announced the Indian leader’s visit in a tweet. ‘’Next week, the Indian Prime Minister, my friend, @NarendraModi will arrive in Israel. This is an historic visit to Israel.’’

Netanyahu is said to be personally overseeing the preparations being made for Modi’s visit to ensure its grand success. ‘’Wake up; the most important PM of the world is coming,’’ is how Modi’s visit to Israel was described on Tuesday by a leading Israeli business daily.

Modi’s visit is also significant since he will be the first top world leader to skip Palestine while visiting Israel, although New Delhi has been steadfast in its commitment to the cause of the Palestinians. It had last month hosted Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas and reiterated its stand on the Palestine issue.

Sources said Modi wanted to send out a clear message to people not only in India but across the globe that India was removing the hyphen from the country’s ties with Israel and Palestine without any dilution in its stand on Palestine. India had come to a stage where it was confident and comfortable enough of dealing with the Palestinians and Israelis separately on their own merits, sources added.

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