JERUSALEM: India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned on Thursday (Feb 26) that India and Israel had pledged to combat terrorism “shoulder to shoulder”, as he concluded a two-day go to centered on deepening strategic ties.
The journey, which has drawn criticism at house, marks Modi’s second go to to Israel as prime minister since he took workplace in 2014.
“India and Israel are clear that there isn’t any place for terrorism on the earth, in any type… We are going to oppose it shoulder to shoulder. We are going to at all times oppose it sooner or later,” Modi mentioned, standing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
“Humanity must not ever change into a sufferer of battle,” he added.
Modi, who addressed Israel’s parliament a day earlier, spoke of future cooperation between Israel and India in quite a lot of fields together with expertise and power.
“Collectively, we are going to transfer ahead in direction of joint growth, joint manufacturing and the switch of expertise,” Modi advised journalists.
“On the similar time, we may also advance our cooperation in areas similar to civil nuclear power and house.”
Each leaders used the go to to announce a sequence of initiatives geared toward deepening commerce and technological cooperation.
They highlighted progress in direction of a free commerce settlement and increasing funding and innovation hyperlinks – from semiconductors and synthetic intelligence to digital funds integration, together with bringing India’s UPI system into the Israeli market.
Israeli officers had framed the go to as an expression of a sturdy and increasing partnership, with Netanyahu describing Modi as “greater than a pal, a brother”.
“The longer term belongs to those that innovate, and Israel and India are bent on innovation,” Netanyahu mentioned on Thursday, standing subsequent to Modi.
“We’re proud historic civilisations, very happy with our previous. However completely decided to grab the longer term, and we will do it higher collectively.”
On Thursday, within the presence of the 2 leaders, greater than a dozen agreements have been signed between the 2 nations in fields similar to schooling, geophysical exploration and synthetic intelligence.
‘WE FEEL YOUR PAIN’
Modi’s go to got here as tensions within the Center East and across the Gaza battle proceed to form diplomatic calculations within the area.
Regardless of strengthening ties with Israel, India has sought to keep up a broader regional stability – traditionally supporting Palestinian statehood whereas deepening cooperation with Israel.
Modi’s visits and statements usually mirror this twin strategy: affirming strategic partnership with Israel whereas reiterating help for peace and diplomatic options within the wider Center East.
He first visited Israel as prime minister in 2017, later travelling individually to Ramallah.
Underneath Modi, India has taken a “acutely aware resolution… to delink India’s relationship with Israel – from India’s relationship and solidarity with the Palestinian individuals,” mentioned Ashok Malik from the New Delhi-based think-tank The Asia Group.
“Each are essential for India, however each are separate.”
In a separate press briefing on Thursday, India’s International Secretary Vikram Misri, when requested if India can be a part of the Worldwide Stabilisation Power for Gaza, mentioned that New Delhi was awaiting better readability “on the bottom”.
“However I can inform you with some conviction… we do have the capability to contribute on the proper time on the bottom,” he mentioned.
On Wednesday, Modi advised lawmakers on the Israeli parliament that his nation stood “firmly” with Israel following Hamas’s assault on Oct 7, 2023.
“I… carry with me the deepest condolences of the individuals of India for each life misplaced and for each household whose world was shattered within the barbaric terrorist assault by Hamas on Oct 7,” Modi mentioned within the Knesset.
“We really feel your ache, we share your grief. India stands with Israel firmly with full conviction on this second and past.”
A senior determine of India’s Congress celebration, Priyanka Gandhi, had criticised Modi’s go to earlier than he arrived in Israel.
In a social media publish, Gandhi mentioned she hoped that Modi would point out the killing of “1000’s of harmless males, ladies and kids in Gaza” throughout his deal with to the Israeli parliament.
In his speech to Israeli lawmakers, Modi didn’t say that explicitly, however mentioned that India “helps all efforts that contribute to sturdy peace and regional stability”.
