Jerusalem, February 26 Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for India on Thursday after concluding his two-day visit to Israel, during which the two countries elevated their "time-tested" relationship to a special strategic partnership.
This was PM Modi's second visit to Israel in nine years.
During his visit, PM Modi held talks with his Israeli counterparts, Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.
Following the Modi-Netanyahu talks, the two countries signed several agreements and decided to collaborate in the fields of civil and nuclear energy.
The two sides vowed to expand their already close defence partnership; agreed to soon finalize a "mutually beneficial" free trade agreement, even as PM Modi strongly backed the Gaza peace initiative, asserting that humanity must never become a victim of conflict.
India and Israel also discussed the implementation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and cooperation under the framework of I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA).
Earlier on Wednesday, in a historic address to the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, Modi described the Gaza Peace Initiative as a path towards "just and durable peace" in the region, even as he delivered a powerful message of solidarity with Israel, asserting that "terrorism anywhere threatens peace everywhere."
Modi was conferred with the 'Speaker of the Knesset Medal' in recognition of his exceptional contribution to strengthening strategic relations between India and Israel, thus becoming the first foreign leader to receive the highest honour of the Israeli Parliament.
Modi visited the Yad Vashem memorial here on Thursday and paid tributes to the victims of the Holocaust.
