Tel Aviv, February 26 – In another gesture of goodwill, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara Netanyahu, bid farewell to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, as the visiting leader concluded his two-day state visit to the country on Thursday.
Prime Minister Modi and Netanyahu shared a warm embrace and engaged in a conversation before Prime Minister Modi boarded the plane.
Netanyahu and the First Lady had also welcomed Prime Minister Modi on the tarmac on Wednesday as Prime Minister Modi landed in the country on his second landmark visit.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi and Netanyahu held talks and agreed to elevate ties to a Special Strategic Partnership. The two leaders also discussed giving greater momentum to cooperation between India and Israel.
“The discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu were very fruitful. We have made a historic decision to elevate our long-standing partnership to a Special Strategic Partnership. This decision reflects the aspirations of the people of both countries,” Prime Minister Modi posted on X.
“We discussed giving new direction and greater momentum to our cooperation. This includes economic and trade linkages. We have decided to establish a Critical and Emerging Technologies Partnership. This will accelerate cooperation in many futuristic areas,” he added.
Prime Minister Modi described agriculture as a key area where the two nations are working closely.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi wrote, "Agriculture is a key area where India and Israel are working closely. In today’s talks, it was decided to increase the number of Centres of Excellence to 100. This will greatly benefit farmers."
Prime Minister Modi also met with the cast of the Jewish spy thriller series, Fauda. Sharing a selfie with the cast on X, Prime Minister Modi wrote, "Thankfully, this interaction required only a selfie, no undercover work! Fauda."
Prime Minister Modi began the second day's engagements by calling on Israeli President Isaac Herzog, as both leaders discussed ways to further enhance cooperation in education, start-ups, innovation, tech and connectivity.
Prime Minister Modi and Herzog also planted a tree in the Presidential Gardens under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative.
"Ties of warmth and goodwill! Prime Minister Narendra Modi called-on the President Isaac Herzog of Israel, today. Prime Minister thanked President Herzog for his steadfast support in strengthening the special India-Israel Partnership. Both leaders explored avenues to further enhance cooperation in education, start-ups, innovation, tech and connectivity,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated on X.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi planted a tree in the Presidential Gardens under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative. Prime Minister also extended an invitation to President Herzog to visit India in the near future," he added.
Prior to meeting Israeli President, Prime Minister Modi visited the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem, laying a wreath at the memorial in memory of the Holocaust victims.
Prime Minister Modi was accompanied by Israeli PM Netanyahu and Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan as he visited the Holocaust Memorial and Museum which perpetuates and documents the Holocaust.
The visit included a tour of the Book of Names - a monumental installation containing the names of 4.8 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust - and a memorial ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance. Prime Minister Modi also signed the Yad Vashem guest book.
Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday addressed a Special Plenary of the Knesset in Jerusalem - the first such address by an Indian Prime Minister at the Israeli parliament.
