India and Israel on Thursday announced that they have decided to elevate their time-tested relationship to the level of a special strategic partnership. The big announcement came after delegation-level talks between visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Following the talks, India and Israel inked several pacts to expand the bilateral ties in a range of areas, including innovation and agriculture.
‘Relationship based on deep trust’
Speaking at a joint press briefing in Jerusalem, PM Modi said he wishes to thank PM Netanyahu for the warm welcome accorded to him and the Indian delegation.
“I had the honour of becoming the first Indian PM to visit Israel nine years ago (in 2017). Once again, setting foot on the historic land of Israel is a moment of pride and deep emotion for me. I express every Indian’s gratitude for giving me the opportunity to address the Israeli Parliament, Knesset, yesterday. I was also honoured with the Speaker of the Knesset Medal. I sincerely thank the Knesset Speaker, my friend Prime Minister Netanyahu, and the people of Israel for this honour,” Modi said.
The PM stressed India-Israel relations are based on deep trust and shared democratic values.
“We have taken a historic decision to give our time-tested relationship the status of Special Strategic Partnership,” PM Modi announced. He added that the decision reflects the aspirations of the two nations.
PM Modi meets Israeli Prez Isaac Herzog
Critical and Emerging Technologies Partnership, UPI in Israel
Modi said he and Netanyahu today decided to give a new direction and momentum to the bilateral cooperation.
“Our economic partnership has become an engine of growth, innovation, and shared prosperity. To promote mutual investment, we signed a Bilateral Investment Agreement last year. We will soon finalise a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement as well,” the PM announced.
PM Modi further announced that India and Israel have also decided to establish a Critical and Emerging Technologies Partnership, which will give a new momentum to cooperation in areas such as AI, Quantum, and Critical Minerals.
Further, the two sides also inked an agreement to launch UPI (United Payments Interface), an Indian innovation, in Israel, the PM stated.
India supports the Gaza Peace Plan
Modi said the two sides also denounced terrorism during their talks and asserted that “there is no place for terrorism in the world”.
“We have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in opposing terrorism and its supporters, and we will continue to do so,” PM Modi added, extending full support to Israel.
On the Gaza conflict, PM Modi reiterated India’s stance that humanity must never become a victim of conflict.
“A path to peace has been created through the Gaza Peace Plan. India has fully supported these efforts. In the future as well, we will continue dialogue and cooperation with all countries,” said Modi.
WATCH: PM Modi visits Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, pays tributes to victims
Watch the full India-Israel Joint Briefing here:
‘Not a single dry eye left in Israel’
On his part, Israeli PM Netanyahu said PM Modi’s short-but-amazing visit was “extraordinarily productive and also extraordinarily moving”.
“I think there wasn’t a dry eye left in Israel after your moving statement yesterday in the Knesset. I can tell you that since then, we have also had the opportunity to not only look deep into our hearts but also into our remarkable minds that we have in our two countries,” Netanyahu said.
“When we talk about precision in education, we now have the software and the AI to reach every young student and enable them to reach their full potential. The limitations that were constraining us in previous times no longer constrain us. The future belongs to those who innovate. And Israel and India are bent on innovation. We are proud ancient civilisations, very proud of our past but absolutely determined to seize the future and we can do it better together,” he added.
Netanyahu further announced that they have decided to hold a G2G meeting in India, and added, “As soon as we can arrange it, we would like to take the distinguished ministers who are here.”
The Israeli PM also praised his friend Modi for running an efficient government back home. “I have to comment to my friend Narendra, you have an amazingly efficient government. What you can do with one minister and one ambassador gives me thoughts. I don’t want you to worry about it. In fact, we know that the meeting of minds and hearts that we’ve had here will also continue in this remarkable G2G that is long overdue and will create an even greater boost to the enormous benefits that we can bring to each other, and I think to humanity at large,” Netanyahu stated, as per ANI.
#WATCH | Jerusalem, Israel: Speaking candidly at the joint press statement with PM Modi, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says, “…I owe India a great personal debt. When I met Sara (his wife) for the first time, I think our first or second date was in an Indian restaurant in Tel… pic.twitter.com/egTANLKbHL
— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2026