Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Concludes Historic Three-Day Visit to Israel, Forging Strategic Partnership

Historic Diplomatic Milestone Achieved

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a historic three-day visit to Israel from July 4 to 6, 2017, marking the first time an Indian Prime Minister has ever visited the Jewish state. The visit, at the invitation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, aimed to solidify the enduring friendship between the two nations and elevate their bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Prime Minister Netanyahu extended a warm welcome to his Indian counterpart, a gesture typically reserved for heads of state like U.S. presidents, underscoring the significance Israel placed on this visit. The leaders engaged in extensive discussions across various sectors, signaling a new era in India-Israel relations.

Deepening Cooperation in Defense, Water, and Agriculture

A cornerstone of the visit was the agreement to establish a 'Strategic Partnership in Water and Agriculture.' This initiative is set to focus on crucial areas such as water conservation, wastewater treatment, its reuse for agriculture, desalination, and water utility reforms. Both nations also committed to reinforcing and expanding existing Centres of Excellence to promote commercially viable business models for farmers.

In the defense sector, the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of bilateral cooperation. Future developments are slated to concentrate on the joint development of defense products, including the transfer of technology from Israel, with a particular emphasis on India's 'Make in India' initiative. India was noted as Israel's largest arms customer in 2017.

Advancing Technology, Innovation, and Cultural Exchange

The visit also saw significant strides in technological and innovation cooperation. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India's Department of Science & Technology and Israel's National Technological Innovation Authority for the establishment of the India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F). Each country pledged a contribution of US$20 million to this fund. Further agreements included cooperation in space technology, specifically concerning atomic clocks and GEO-LEO optical links.

Beyond strategic and economic ties, the leaders emphasized strengthening people-to-people contacts. Prime Minister Modi announced the opening of an Indian Cultural Centre in Israel, a move warmly welcomed by Prime Minister Netanyahu. The visit also included an address by Prime Minister Modi to the vibrant Indian diaspora in Tel Aviv, highlighting their role as an enduring link between the two nations.

Notably, Prime Minister Modi's itinerary did not include a visit to the Palestinian Authority, a departure from India's traditional diplomatic approach and signaling a 'de-hyphenation' of its foreign policy towards Israel and Palestine.