Narendra Modi has created history by becoming the first Prime Minister of India to visit the Jewish nation. Mr. Modi, who arrived in Israel on Tuesday, will be staying in the country till Thursday.
“I begin a historic visit to Israel, a very special partner of India’s... As the first Indian prime minister to do so, I am greatly looking forward to this unprecedented visit that will bring our two countries and people closer,” Mr. Modi said in a statement on Monday.
“I look forward to holding extensive talks with my friend, @IsraeliPM @netanyahu, who shares a commitment for vibrant India-Israel ties,” he tweeted.
In Israel, he met President Reuven Ruvi Rivlin and will address the CEOs of the two countries as well as the Indian diaspora. He will visit the Yad Vashem Memorial Museum to honour the memory of the victims of the holocaust that counts among the greatest tragedies in human history. He will also pay his respects to the courageous Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during the liberation of Haifa in 1918.
The Hindu 's Diplomatic Affairs Editor Suhasini Haidar will be giving updates from the field.
Live updates
11.00 pm: Modi meets Indian diaspora in Israel
For the first time in 70 years an Indian PM has got an opportunity to visit Israel. This is a matter of joy, says Modi as he is welcomed by thousands on Indians gathered.
"Yes, we are meeting after a very long time. It took many years for this visit to happen. Our ties with Israel are about mutual trust and friendship. Israel has shown that more than size, it is the spirit that matters. Jewish community has enriched India with their contribution in various fields. Mayors of various Israeli cities have also joined us today. Their love for India has drawn them here, I thank them. We have introduced 100% FDI in key sectors, which will help our economy. With the aim of 'housing for all' we have placed emphasis on the construction and the real estate sector. Air services in Delhi-Mumbai-Tel Aviv routes will be kicked off soon."
10.00 pm: Cultural centre, a new bond
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced the setting up of an Indian Cultural Centre in Israel as part of efforts to enhance people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
8.00 pm: India, Israel ink 7 pacts
India and Israel today signed seven agreements to step-up cooperation in key sectors like space, agriculture and water conservation after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held in-depth talks with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Department of Science and Technology and Israel’s National Technological Innovation Authority for setting up of $40 million worth India-Israel Industrial Research and Development (R&D) and Technical Innovation Fund.
Prime Minister Modi said, “we are of one view that together our scientists and researchers would develop, build and implement mutually beneficial solutions in the field“.
6.00 pm: Modi meets Moshe
Modi meets Moshe Holtzberg, the boy who lost his parents in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Modi tells the 11 year old: "You can visit India anytime. Will give you and your family long-term visa."
5.55 pm: Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar briefs press after Modi's meeting.
Jaishankar : "In terms of joint statement, we think of it as a strategic partnership, two civilizations who consider themselves the cradle of civilization."
5.15 pm: Modi-Netanyahu joint address
Modi and Netanyahu arrive for a joint address over the exchange of agreements. Foreign Secretary Jaishankar and Israel Foreign Ministry DG Rotem exchange agreements on water conservation.
Modi : "India admires Israel's resilience. Our paths have been different but we share values of democracy. Israel leads in water, agriculture and innovation, which are my priority for India."
Modi invites Netanyahu to India, Netanyahu accepts.
2.30 pm: Seven agreements to be signed
Seven agreements to be exchanged between India and Israel at the end of talks: three on space, two on water, one on innovation and one on Mashav, Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation.
1:30 pm: 'I' for 'I'. 'India for Israel'
Mr. Modi met Israel President Reuven Ruvi Rivlin, as part of his visit to the country. "The President of Israel welcomed me so warmly, he broke protocol. This is a mark of respect for the people of India," Mr. Modi tweeted.
During the meeting, President Rivlin recalled his visit to India in November 2016, seeing a strong nation with strong ideas and clear goals and tasks, MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay tweeted.
"'I' for 'I' is India for Israel, and 'I' with 'I' is India with Israel," Prime Minister Modi said.
12:05 pm: When Modi inspired Bibi to 'bend'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has been inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s enthusiasm for yoga and cited yogic asanas to link the two flourishing democracies of the world.
Underlining that he wants to start practising Yoga, he said, “Modi advised me to start at lower level. I am starting at a lower level. When I do a relaxing Tada-asana in the morning and I turn my head to right, India is the first democracy I see and when Modi does a relaxing Vasisthasana and he turns left, Israel is the first democracy he can see. So in fact we have India and Israel two sister democracies,” Netanyahu said.
11:30 am: Mr. Modi is known to present unique artifacts as gifts to his host nations. To his Israeli counterpart, he presented replicas of two sets of relics from Kerala, regarded as key artifacts of the long Jewish history in India.
They comprise two different sets of copper plates that are believed to have been inscribed in 9-10th Century, the PMO tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Isreali Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with replicas of 2 sets of relics from Kerala that are regarded as key artefacts in the long Jewish history in India. Photo courtesy: @PMOIndia
11:20 am: Did you know what the PM ate last night? Mr. Modi, a lover of Indian food was offered gol gappas, idlis, makai palak, aloo dum, khumb pulao, ma ki dal, and mango kulfi among others at a private dinner hosted by Mr. Netanyahu.
11:00 am: PM Modi may have advocated gifting “books over bouquets”, but PM Netanyahu still believes in saying it with flowers. At their first stop after Mr. Modi landed in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, they went to the famous Danziger flower farm and the Volcani institute of floriculture research, where a “fast-growing” Chrysanthemum species was named after him .
10:45 am: There are several surprises awaiting Mr. Modi. One of them is Liora Itzhak, the Indian-born Liora Itzhak, professional singer, who has sung Bollywood film and Israeli pop songs, with her first full album, Mala Mala , making waves here.
Itzhak has been chosen to sing the Indian and Israeli national anthems at the diaspora event for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
10:30 am: The story so far. Upon his landing in Tel Aviv, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a red carpet welcome by Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. dinner with Mr. Netanyahu. Both the Prime Ministers made a short statement before taking off for the next programme for the day.
" Aapka swaagat hai mere dost , (Welcome you, my friend) we have waited for you 70 years," said Mr. Netanyahu. "This is an exciting journey that we will undertake together, for the good of our people and our society," was Nr. Modi's response.
(With inputs from Agencies)
