Jerusalem, February 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi made history by becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, during his two-day visit to the country. The Prime Minister was welcomed by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, who presented him with formal honors.
Before Modi’s address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, opposition leader Yair Lapid, and Speaker Ohana addressed the parliament, expressing strong bipartisan support for India-Israel relations.
In his speech, Modi began by thanking the Speaker for the special honor and expressed gratitude for receiving the ‘Speaker of the Knesset’ medal, which he dedicated to the enduring friendship and shared democratic traditions of both nations.
Highlighting the strong friendship between India and Israel, Modi noted the ancient civilizational ties and contemporary partnerships based on technology, innovation, defense, security, and strategic similarities. He emphasized that robust people-to-people connections in agriculture, rural development, water management, sustainable development, and entrepreneurship have energized bilateral relations. Modi acknowledged the significant contributions of the Indian community in Israel and the Jewish diaspora in India to the progress of both countries.
Recalling both nations’ zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism, Modi expressed condolences for the October 7 terrorist attacks, stating that such brutality cannot be justified. He offered India’s support for all efforts towards lasting peace and stability in the region, mentioning India’s firm backing for the Gaza peace initiative approved by the United Nations Security Council. Modi called for deeper engagement in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) and the i2U2 framework, highlighting ongoing cooperation between India and Israel on multilateral platforms.
The Prime Minister underscored India’s development narrative and stressed the need for increased bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure development, green growth, startups, digital solutions, and emerging technologies to enhance the innovative potential and creativity of youth. He expressed satisfaction with the conclusion of the bilateral investment treaty and called for the swift finalization of an ambitious free trade agreement to realize untapped trade potential.
Leveraging the recently formed parliamentary friendship group for Israel in India, Modi urged for increased parliamentary dialogue between the two vibrant democracies. He noted the shared values of both civilizations, highlighting India’s principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family) and Israel’s “Tikkun Olam” (repairing the world) as a reflection of a common vision for a harmonious society. Modi thanked the Knesset members for their contributions to India-Israel relations and extended wishes for the upcoming Purim festival.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.