Modi makes history by visiting Israel

TEL AVIV. – India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Israel on Tuesday on a historic three-day visit – the first by an Indian prime minister.

The visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1992. India recognised Israel in 1950 nearly two years after it declared independence, but it took New Delhi 67 years to establish diplomatic ties with the Middle Eastern nation.

Earlier on the day of the meeting, Indian English language daily The Times of India published a joint editorial written by Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu highlighting the collaborations between the two countries. “India and Israel are walking hand in hand into the future as partners,” the editorial said.

Ties between the two nations have become more “visible” since Modi became prime minister in 2014 and Israeli ambassador to India Daniel Carmon said the “landmark” visit will focus on issues of economic development, innovation, agriculture, water and establishing a better connection between the people of the two countries, as well as defence.

Modi is set to hold talks with Netanyahu, whom he calls his friend and is likely to address the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. Modi’s trip comes weeks after India approved a defence deal with Israel worth $2bn.

The Indian prime minister has been pushing for defence cooperation with Israel, which has agreed to collaborate and support his “Make in India” initiative. The trip will focus on “Expanding business and investment collaboration on the ground. In addition, I hope to get insights into Israel’s accomplishments in technology and innovation through on-site visits,” Modi wrote on his Facebook page.

“We already have quite a significant collaboration in defence technology and cyber security, but now we need to go to new areas,” Vijay Chauthaiwale, head of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) foreign policy department, told Al Jazeera.