The second day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel unfolded with solemn remembrance and high-stakes diplomacy, as the two nations signalled a deepening of ties across defence, trade, and strategic cooperation.
PM Modi began his day with a visit to Yad Vashem, Israel's official Holocaust memorial established in 1953 to honour the six million Jews who perished under Nazi persecution. The memorial, which serves as both a site of solemn remembrance and a global symbol of the horrors of genocide, set a deeply reflective tone for the day's diplomatic engagements. The visit underscored India's solidarity with the Jewish people and its recognition of one of history's darkest chapters.
Following the memorial visit, Modi met President Isaac Herzog for bilateral talks in Jerusalem, reinforcing the personal warmth and institutional goodwill that has characterised India-Israel relations in recent years.
The centrepiece of the day was the delegation-level meeting between PM Modi and his Israeli counterpart, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, scheduled for 2:40 PM. The talks were expected to be followed by the exchange of Memoranda of Understanding and a joint press statement — signalling concrete outcomes from the visit rather than merely symbolic gestures.
Defence and security cooperation are expected to dominate the agenda. Reports suggest discussions may include potential collaboration between India's indigenous air defence system, Sudarshan Chakra, and Israel's battle-tested Iron Dome technology. Such a partnership, if formalised, would represent a significant milestone in the two countries' already robust defence relationship. Beyond security, economic ties, innovation, trade, and investment are also high on the agenda, building on an existing bilateral investment agreement and ongoing Free Trade Agreement negotiations that could unlock substantial commercial potential for both sides.
At 4 PM, Modi was scheduled to meet members of the Indian diaspora in Israel — a community that has long served as a living bridge between the two nations. These interactions, a hallmark of Modi's foreign visits, serve to strengthen people-to-people ties and highlight the contributions of Indians abroad. The Prime Minister was set to depart for New Delhi at 5:50 PM, concluding what has been a landmark two-day visit.
The visit's significance was cemented on Wednesday when Modi addressed a special plenary session of the Knesset in Jerusalem, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister ever to address the Israeli parliament. He was also conferred the Speaker of the Knesset Medal, the parliament's highest honour — a recognition of his role in elevating the bilateral relationship to new heights.
Leave Your Comment