New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going on a two-day visit to Israel from today i.e. Wednesday. This is his second visit to Israel in nine years and this time the visit is considered special considering tensions have increased in West Asia – expressly the relations between America and Iran are deteriorating. At such a time, this visit seems to be a step to remoter strengthen the strong friendship between India and Israel.
Why is this journey important?
Modi ji will be in Israel on 25 and 26 February. His first visit in 2017 elevated the relationship between the two countries to the status of a strategic partnership. After that Netanyahu came to India in 2018. Now this second visit shows how deep the trust and cooperation from both sides have become. The Ministry of External Affairs is saying that this visit will provide an opportunity to reiterate old promises as well as work together on the upcoming challenges.
Who will he meet and what will happen?
The Prime Minister will write the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) – a first for an Indian PM. He will hold long talks with Benjamin Netanyahu, meet with President Isaac Herzog. On Wednesday night, Netanyahu is hosting a private dinner at his home in honor of Modi ji. Netanyahu himself has written on Twitter that he is eagerly waiting for Modi ji. There may moreover be a program of visiting Yad Vashem (Holocaust Memorial) and programs related to innovation during the trip.
Will the trade try-on move forward?
Just surpassing the visit, Free Trade Try-on (FTA) negotiations between the two countries are in full swing. The four-day meeting, which began on February 23, will end on February 26. Both countries want greater cooperation in trade, investment and technology. If this try-on is reached, the economies of both will goody greatly.
Maximum focus on defense and security
Defense and security will be the biggest issue in the meeting of the two leaders. India is making its own ethnic air defense system named 'Sudarshan Chakra'. There may be talk of including some parts of the multi-layer defense system like Israel's famous Iron Dome. Both countries are once very tropical in counter-terrorism, upper technology, and defence. This visit can unshut the way for new agreements and technology sharing.
Overall, this visit is not just a formal meeting. This is going to lay the foundation for a strong future partnership between the two countries. In this period of tension, India and Israel are standing as strong allies of each other. It is expected that this will remoter deepen the relations between the two countries.
