Israel, India pledge to fight evils of terrorism together

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Israel on Tuesday for a historic three-day visit. The high-profile visit celebrates 25 years of diplomatic relations and aims to bolster trade ties between the two countries.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greeted Modi at Ben-Gurion International Airport, where the Indian dignitary was received with full state honors.

Israeli officials noted that the warm treatment goes well beyond diplomatic protocol and reflects the importance of the visit.


Video: GPO

Modi, who is heading a delegation of 100 officials and businesspeople, visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem shortly after his arrival. On Tuesday evening, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, hosted the Indian leader at the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem.

Modi met with President Reuven Rivlin on Wednesday, before meeting with Netanyahu at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. He also visited the Israel Museum before heading with Netanyahu to the Tel Aviv Convention Center, where they were both set to speak at an event for the Indian community in Israel. Some 4,000 people are expected to attend the event.

On Thursday, Netanyahu and Modi will visit the Christian Cemetery in Haifa, where Modi will lay a wreath at the tombs of Indian soldiers killed during the 1918 Battle of Haifa. Some 900 soldiers from the Indian 15th Imperial Service Cavalry, 5th Cavalry Division and Desert Mounted Corps fought Ottoman troops during the World War I battle and were buried in Haifa, which grew to be Israel's third-largest city.

The two leaders will then visit Dor Beach for a demonstration of state-of-the-art water desalination technology. Later, they are scheduled to meet senior Indian and Israeli CEOs at a joint innovation conference in Tel Aviv.

Modi will conclude his visit to Israel on Thursday afternoon. Unlike other world leaders who visit Israel, Modi announced he would not visit the Palestinian Authority or meet with any Palestinian officials while in the region.

"It's hard to overstate the importance of Modi's visit," said Mark Sofer, deputy director general of the Asia and Pacific Division at the Foreign Ministry.

Israeli Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon said the historic visit marks the pinnacle of the improved Israel-India ties under Modi's government.

"This is a new kind of diplomacy. We've identified the areas in which each country has a relative advantage and can help the other, and now cooperation is the name of the game," Carmon said.

'Israel, India are kindred spirits'

"My friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, welcome to Israel," Netanyahu said at the receiving ceremony for Modi at Ben-Gurion International Airport.

"We've been waiting for you a long time. We've been waiting almost 70 years, in fact, because yours is truly a historic visit. It's the first time an Indian prime minister is visiting Israel. We receive you with open arms. We love India. We admire your culture, we admire your history, your democracy, your commitment to progress. We view you as kindred spirits in our common quest to provide a better future for our peoples and for our world."

Recounting their previous meeting in Paris in 2014, Netanyahu said, "I remember, my friend, what you said in that first meeting. You said that when it comes to India-Israel's relations, the sky is the limit. But actually, my friend, the sky isn't the limit because today even our space programs are working together to achieve even greater heights. ... We're setting up a $40 million innovation fund as the seed for even greater cooperation on technology between us. Our partnership extends to water, agriculture, security, energy, many, many other fields."

Netanyahu lauded Modi as "a great leader of India and a great world leader. Your visit to Israel is a testament to that. Our two peoples have deeply held values rooted in ancient cultures, yet we both seek to realize the promise of a better future. I know, and this visit marks that very clearly, that we can do even more, even better together."

Modi thanked Netanyahu for the warm welcome, and greeted those at the ceremony in Hebrew, saying, "Hello everyone. I am very happy to be here."

Speaking in English, he said, "It is my singular honor to be the first ever prime minister of India to undertake this groundbreaking visit to Israel. I want to thank my friend Prime Minister Netanyahu for the invitation and for receiving me with so much warmth. My visit celebrates the strength of centuries-old links between our societies. Based on these bonds, our partnership has maintained a strong and sustained upswing since the establishment of full diplomatic relations 25 years ago."

Modi stressed the "need to rely on science, technology, innovation and high-technical education to overcome developmental challenges common to both of us. The domains also bring together the creative energy and ideas of the highly skilled youth and entrepreneurs of the two countries. Alongside building a partnership for shared economic prosperity, we are also cooperating to secure our societies against common threats such as terrorism. A progressive partnership in all these areas would shape the scope of my conversation with Prime Minister, my friend, Netanyahu.

"I am also keen to interact with the Indian diaspora in Israel, including a large number of Jews of Indian origin who have enriched both of our societies," he said. "My visit marks a path-breaking journey of engagement, a journey that we are excited to undertake together for the good of our people and societies. As we march together, a strong and resilient partnership with Israel will be my intent and focus. I thank you once again for this tremendous welcome."

From the airport, Netanyahu and Modi traveled to the nearby Danziger Flower Farm, where Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel joined them. The farm named a new variety of fast-growing white chrysanthemum after Modi, as a symbol of the blooming relations between the nations.

Netanyahu and Modi then visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem. The leaders toured the Hall of Names and the Children's Memorial and participated in a memorial ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance.

Following the visit, Netanyahu suggested that Modi visit the grave of Zionist visionary Theodor Herzl, and Modi immediately agreed.

The two then held a joint press conference in Jerusalem.

Netanyahu said that both nations "seek a better future for our peoples. Doing so requires a lot of work. It won't happen overnight but Prime Minister Modi and I have the same trait -- we both want it to happen overnight. We are tireless reformers and I want to congratulate you, Prime Minister, on the reforms that you're doing to change India's economy and we both believe that we can do together great things for the betterment of the future of our peoples.

"We believe we can accomplish great things. We have accomplished great things and we have many, many more opportunities to seize together in the future. We also face common challenges and the first of it is to defeat the forces of terror that rampage through the world and threaten both our countries. So we must stand together in this battle, much as we work together to perfect the future.

"Prime Minister, we share a bond of democracy and creativity, a deep respect for the past, a boundless optimism for the future and it's in this spirit, my friend Narendra, of close cooperation and deepest friendship that I welcome you here to our home in Jerusalem. Welcome, friend."

Modi thanked Netanyahu and expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome he received in Israel, which he said "evokes a feeling of home away from home. It reminds me of our own hospitality and welcome. I'm most grateful for their [the Netanyahus'] warm and generous hospitality.

"Just a short while back, I laid a wreath at Yad Vashem to remember and honor over 6 million Jewish lives that were lost in the horror of the Holocaust. Yad Vashem is a reminder of the unspeakable evil inflicted generations ago. It is also a tribute to your unbreakable spirit to rise above the depths of treachery, overcome hatred and forge a vibrant democratic nation. Yad Vashem tells us that those who believe in humanity and civilized values must come together and defend it at all cost. As such, we must resolutely oppose the evils of terrorism, radicalism and violence that plague our time."

He lauded the longtime link between the Jewish and Indian people, saying, "We are proud of Jewish sons and daughters of India ... whose diverse contributions have greatly enriched the fabric of Indian society. Indian Jews are a living and vibrant connect to this shared history. My visit to Israel celebrates this ancient bond between communities across both of our nations. And I'm happy that I will have the occasion to engage with the rich Indian diaspora in Israel later tomorrow.

"Friends, in modern times, our ties have seen rapid growth since the establishment of our full diplomatic relations a quarter century ago. Common objectives of economic prosperity, strong technology, and innovation ties and the need to secure our society define the space for convergent action between us.

"Over coming decades, we want to frame a relationship that transforms the landscape of our economic engagement. India is the world's fastest growing large economy. Our focus on using technology and innovation to meet our developmental priorities provides productive scope to expand our academic, scientific and research and business links. We also want to put in place a robust security partnership to respond to shared threats to our peace, stability and prosperity. I'll work with Prime Minister Netanyahu to build a clear agenda to realize these objectives," he concluded.

טעינו? נתקן! אם מצאתם טעות בכתבה, נשמח שתשתפו אותנו