Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday departed for a two-day visit to Israel, describing the trip as an opportunity to deepen cooperation and chart new directions for the India-Israel Strategic Partnership. The visit, scheduled across Wednesday and Thursday, will include high-level meetings, diplomatic engagements and a historic address to Israel's Parliament, the Knesset.
Focus on strengthening strategic cooperation
In his departure statement, the Prime Minister highlighted the growing depth of ties between the two countries and expressed optimism about upcoming discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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"India and Israel share a robust and multifaceted Strategic Partnership that has witnessed remarkable growth and dynamism in recent years. I look forward to my discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu aimed at further strengthening our cooperation across various domains, including science and technology, innovation, agriculture, water management, defence and security, trade and investment, as well as people-to-people ties," PM Modi was quoted as saying by NDTV.
He added that both leaders would also exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest.
The visit marks Modi's second trip to Israel after his landmark 2017 visit, which expanded cooperation in areas such as defence, agriculture and water management and elevated bilateral engagement.
Historic Knesset address and key meetings
During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog to discuss bilateral relations and shared priorities. A major highlight of the trip will be his address to the Knesset.
"I will also have the honour of becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Israeli Parliament, Knesset, an occasion that would be a tribute to the strong parliamentary and democratic ties that bind our two nations," he was quoted as saying by NDTV.
The Prime Minister also said he looks forward to interacting with members of the Indian diaspora, "who have for long been nurturing the India-Israel special friendship".
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Shared vision for future collaboration
Emphasising long-term goals, NDTV quoted Modi as saying, "I am confident that my State Visit will further consolidate the enduring bonds between the two countries, set new goals for the Strategic Partnership, and advance our shared vision for a resilient, innovative and prosperous future."
The Ministry of External Affairs said the visit would reaffirm the deep and long-standing partnership and help both nations review common challenges while aligning efforts toward a stronger relationship between "two resilient democracies".
Warm exchanges with Israeli leadership
Ahead of the visit, Netanyahu described Modi as a "dear friend" and called the trip a milestone in bilateral ties. Responding to Netanyahu's message on X, Modi said, "Thank you, my friend, Prime Minister Netanyahu. I fully agree with you on the bond between India and Israel as well as the diverse nature of our bilateral relations. India deeply values the enduring friendship with Israel, built on trust, innovation and a shared commitment to peace and progress. Looking forward to our discussions during my upcoming Israel visit."
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Netanyahu also outlined plans for joint engagements, including an innovation event in Jerusalem and a visit to Yad Vashem, while emphasising expanded cooperation in emerging technologies. "We will advance cooperation in high-tech, AI, and quantum. I say AI and quantum not because it's not the future, it's the present, and we want to be among the world's leading nations in this field," NDTV quoted Netanyahu as saying.
