Soon after making history as the first Indian Prime Minister to address a Special Plenary of the Knesset, Narendra Modi was seen sharing a car ride with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a brief but telling moment that has come to define his style of diplomacy.
The two leaders travelled together to a technology exhibition following the address. PM Modi later posted on X: “After my Knesset address, PM Netanyahu and I are on the way to an exhibition which showcases strides made in the world of technology.”
Beyond the optics, the visit carried substance. The Indian PM was received at the Knesset by Speaker Amir Ohana with ceremonial honours. Netanyahu, Opposition leader Yair Lapid and Speaker Ohana spoke in the Plenary before PM Modi’s address, demonstrating broad political backing for India-Israel ties.
In his speech, PM Modi thanked the Speaker for the special honour and dedicated the ‘Speaker of The Knesset’ medal to the shared democratic values and enduring friendship between the two nations. He underlined cooperation across defence, agriculture, technology, and water management, and reiterated India’s zero tolerance for terrorism while expressing condolences over the October 7 attack. He also reaffirmed India’s support for efforts towards peace, including the Gaza Peace Initiative endorsed by the UN Security Council.
Diplomacy on the move
The Jerusalem drive is the latest in a string of similar moments that have marked PM Modi’s recent engagements with global leaders.
Earlier this month (February 17), he travelled with French President Emmanuel Macron to the India-France Innovation Forum in Mumbai. In September 2025, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin were seen heading together to a key bilateral meeting.
In December, Prime Minister Modi personally received Putin at New Delhi’s Palam Airport before the two drove to his official residence.
On December 16, 2025, Jordan’s Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II drove PM Modi to a museum in Amman, while in Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali escorted him from the airport to his hotel.
After sharing a ride with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in October 2025, PM Modi had remarked that India-UK ties were “on the move” and “filled with great vigour”.