Modi to be first Indian premier to visit Israel
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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling to Israel, the first such visit by an Indian prime minister to the Jewish country with which bilateral defence cooperation is on an upswing, Press Trust of India said on Sunday.
No dates have been finalised for Mr Modi’s Israel visit which will take place on mutually convenient dates, Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said.
Asked whether Mr Modi will visit Iran, she said no such visit had been finalised so far but he would be visiting Turkey to attend G-20 Summit later this year. Ms Swaraj said she would travel to Iran to attend NAM summit this year.
Know more: Ties with India out of closet, says Israel
Ms Swaraj said she would be travelling to Israel this year, besides Palestine and Jordan. Mr Modi visited Israel as chief minister of Gujarat.
India had established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992 though it had recognised the country in 1950. No Indian prime minister or president has ever visited that country.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had become the first premier from that country to visit India in 2003. He is credited with transforming bilateral relations from diminutive defence and trade cooperation to the strategic ties of today.
“As far as my visit is concerned, it will take place this year. I will visit, Israel, Palestine and Jordan. As far as prime minister’s visit is concerned, he will travel to Israel. No dates have been finalised. It will take place as per mutually convenient dates,” she said replying to a question at a press conference.
At the same time, she asserted, “there was no change in India’s policy towards Palestine”.
L.K. Advani had visited Israel when he was Home Minister in the Atal Behari Vajpayee’s government. Jaswant Singh and S.M. Krishna had visited the Jewish nation as external affairs ministers. Recently Home Minister Rajnath Singh had also visited Israel.
Describing Israel as a friendly country, Ms Swaraj said India had never “let down” the Palestinian cause and it will continue to support it. Talking about government’s efforts to reach out to various countries, she said Mr Modi would visit five Central Asian countries including Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan when he travels to Russia to attend the BRICS Summit.
Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2015
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Comments (68) Closed
Jun 01, 2015 06:44am
Hope India buys agricultural and solar technology from Israel, and not weapons.
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Jun 01, 2015 06:58am
Clear vision, perfect planning and timely action future is your, best of luck India.
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Jun 01, 2015 07:03am
India ASSERTING itself? Ties with Israel were in the closet for a long while,with fear that it would anger the Arabs?:)
India in 2015 is a very different country from 1950,when India recognized Israel?:):)
Pakistan would do well to accept Israel as well? Never mind the vexing Palestinian problem? Pakistan can perhaps play a more constructive role when it is on talking terms with Israel?:)
Good show,Narendra Modiji!!!!:):):)
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Jun 01, 2015 07:07am
Good. It is in India's interest to further ties with Israel and the US.
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Jun 01, 2015 07:14am
This is something good about India's policy that we lack, unfortunately; of not taking sides explicitly. We jumped into US lap during Cold War years and ended up where we are today. India on the other hand maintained its strategic independence, though they were closer to USSR but they never alienated the US.
Only good that I noticed recently is that we didn't participate in the Saudi-Yemen war, it would have caused more trouble to us here. Hope we would have more independent policy in future.
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Jun 01, 2015 07:25am
Its a wonder that India amicably manages Israel and Palestine at the same time. Great diplomacy!
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Jun 01, 2015 07:35am
We must talk with anyone who likes to do business and who have something to offer to us as a nation.
Even if it is North Korea or Sudan or a tiny Pacific island.
Business and trade above all. Indians should not be egoistic and emotional. That's how the world will find us useful.
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Jun 01, 2015 07:40am
India has been part of Non Aligned movement. We maintain equally good relations with Palestine and middle east along with Israel. Its a hard thing to do. Good job by all Indian govts so far on this.
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Jun 01, 2015 07:59am
Modi is a true business man
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Jun 01, 2015 08:00am
Palestine cause may perhaps be better sold by establishing closer links with Israel. This opportunity should be best utilised in that way. We should explore positive aspects even in our disliked event.
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Jun 01, 2015 08:04am
Buy something for man kind. Weapons bring poverty and destruction to human kind. It should be a lesson to all of the country.
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Jun 01, 2015 08:10am
Israel can be source of various kind of technology.
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Jun 01, 2015 08:34am
Modis going to israel weeks after India signed a deal with iran.Thats not going to end well for Hindustan.
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Jun 01, 2015 08:35am
Very good move by the PM while keeping a status quo on the Palestine policy.
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Jun 01, 2015 08:43am
Right step. Indo-Israeli defense cooperation would be hugely beneficial to both sides besides cooperation in agriculture, industry and Space.
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Jun 01, 2015 08:55am
And he is also visiting Palestine..forgot to mention that detail??
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Jun 01, 2015 08:57am
Narendra Modi is the best PM this sub-continent has ever seen. He will create history.
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Jun 01, 2015 09:00am
Hope Modi's Israel visit will be a success --- Both India and Israel cherish democracy.
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Jun 01, 2015 09:02am
good job, Israel has a lot of tech to offer that can help in many different sectors.
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Jun 01, 2015 09:11am
Another good step by our visionary beloved pm. After Russia if somebody is most trustable friend ,its Israel which helps and support India in all situations. Long live Indo Israel friendship.
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Jun 01, 2015 09:25am
guess agenda will also include more cooperation between the two countries to increase influence in Afghanistan!
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Jun 01, 2015 09:29am
India is a good friend of Israel , Iran & Palestine. While India cares for jewish settlement and homeland for jewish, India also does not want people of Palestine not to suffer a bit. India has to carefully maintain the relations with Isreal, Iran as both are India's friends. India's relations with Isreal, Iran, Palestine is more of defence, economic co-operation.
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Jun 01, 2015 09:34am
Do whatever is good for India country
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Jun 01, 2015 09:41am
@Ajay Your hopes are already doomed .
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Jun 01, 2015 09:45am
Modi should be tourist minister of India.
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Jun 01, 2015 09:47am
@Ajay Thank you.
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Jun 01, 2015 09:50am
India should have a open relationship with Israel.India should have ties in all fields with them, both civil & military.Trade should be expanded.
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Jun 01, 2015 10:02am
Clever politician always give priority to the country not personal wealth.
He is doing good for the country.
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Jun 01, 2015 10:06am
Amazing, India is friend of Israel and Palestine, Iran and US, Russia and US, China and Japan! This I guess power of non - align policy taken 60-70 years ago.
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Jun 01, 2015 10:07am
Two great frieds...long live India-Israel friendship...
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Jun 01, 2015 10:33am
@Ajay weapons are also necesrary especially when indegenous production is lagging.
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Jun 01, 2015 10:35am
Good going India
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Jun 01, 2015 10:37am
The regon should take note of this shift in Indian policy
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Jun 01, 2015 10:38am
Wishing you all the best, Mr. Modi. Pakistan should follow in your footsteps instead of always walking backwards and making wrong choices and alliances.
Israel is not enemy of Pakistan by the way.
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Jun 01, 2015 11:00am
@Pakistani If you are powerful then everybody would eager to become friend with you.
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Jun 01, 2015 11:04am
REMINDER: In past one country had provided support and planes to other country to attack on the nuclear site of Pakistan. Please strive to remember the name of those two counties. One power of the earth is famous to make friends to fight in his favor and after achieving the objective wants to abolish the friends. In his law enemies can be trusted but greedy friends can not be treated. Today they can be bought him and in his law there is risk they can be hired by someone else on higher rates. Be honest with your mothers, sisters and daughters not others. Bad desires and THE END will be bad too. Many have ignored the good rules in past and many are doing the same practice at existing time. Dignity of a mother, sister and a daughter is precious than high living status. No status for poor nations even live in palaces and drive most expensive vehicles. World knows the back ground of each corrupt and greedy family. Tell a son of thief buy whole world and tell the world to give his respect.
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Jun 01, 2015 11:16am
@Pakistani : IT will only End well. India has long been very good at keeping friendly relations with Israel, Iran or Saudi(who are not exactly friends with each other).Enlightened Self Interest runs India's foreign policy.
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Jun 01, 2015 11:26am
India and Israel are common friends. Both need each other. India has a huge market and Israel has technology. We need modern technology from Israel to combat terrorism & technology for africulture & water treatment while Israel can benefit from our big defence and consumer market.
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Jun 01, 2015 11:44am
The True Leader of Hindustan is very Now Narendra Modi . Israel has great technology related to agriculture and solar including defence. India is hungry for taking Agriculture technology from Israel.
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Jun 01, 2015 11:45am
@Pakistani - It always ends well for India. Wherever we go, we go to give and not take. Iran visit was for Chabahar port which we will finance and build. Israel will be for a strategic tie up for agriculture (specifically drip farming), solar energy, weapons systems and water desalination technology. All this will be bought for cash. No loans. No aid. Maazrat ke saath :)
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Jun 01, 2015 11:53am
@Pakistani : It seems that choosing to build relationship on common ground, while working on resolution of differences is a positive approach. Holding all ties hostage to differences is unwise
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Jun 01, 2015 11:55am
the only country in the world who has made no enemies. govt t changes but policy remains stable. a stable largest democracy in the world who has given shelter to all community from parsis to jews christians and muslims too. all are happy.fir bhi dil hai hindustani. followeres of hindustanism.
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Jun 01, 2015 11:57am
India always had good diplomats and matured leader. They didnt take decisions on short sightedness or emotional gains. We always maintained balanced relations with USA-Russia. Israle-Palestine, Saudi Arab- Iran, and at present too China-USA, as well as China, Japan and far east countries.
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Jun 01, 2015 11:59am
@Asma Sheikh Asma, Pakistan could have had an constructive alliance with US and still said no to Taliban and radicalization of your country. You guys where on the right track, It is only since late 80s things went haywire. May be it is a media created illusion, but I feel that in Pakistan moderates are a minority, and is intimidated by an extreme right majority. Personally I fear that India will go the same way.
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Jun 01, 2015 12:04pm
He can play a role in stopping the killings of children of Palestine.
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Jun 01, 2015 12:33pm
Modi was chief Minister of Gujrat only. Never been to overseas before becoming PM. Looking at BJP rule, they have done nothing for the country. BJP have always ruled by anti-Pakistan votes and that is why they have been always short lived compare to congress. BJP is destroying Indiia but lucky to have very well experience Congress to take over.
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Jun 01, 2015 12:52pm
Excellent diplomacy and foreign policy. We have good relation with Saudi Arabia and at same time with Iran also. We support Palestine and same time have better trade with Israel also. We are very close to Russia and same time with america also. We have billon dollars trade with China and same time huge trade with Japan also. As a nation we are not completely inclined to one single nation and not a enemy of other nation. Our relation is based on trade and other co operations, not giver- taker relation. Day by day Pm modi Ji have shown his ability and proved that decision of Indian voter was absolutely right.
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Jun 01, 2015 01:05pm
As our Prime Minister says.. let's make India a land of businessmen and entrepreneurs again. We will partner with good people of both the sides.
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Jun 01, 2015 01:48pm
good going modiji and swaraj madam.... bravo
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Jun 01, 2015 02:17pm
I stay in Delhi and belong to a village in north India. I recently went back to my village and was surprised when I saw Israeli scientists helping farmers in India. The idea was to increase the crop production by 12 to 15%. I hope when modi saheb is back....he comes back with a clear policy what help will we get from Israel.
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Jun 01, 2015 02:29pm
Israel & Palestine both are our friends & our policy is not changed about Palestine... But cooperation of technology with Israel is very important for the development... agriculture, solar, border guarding system should be taken..
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Jun 01, 2015 06:11pm
When NS will visit Israel ?
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Jun 01, 2015 06:12pm
Last week I got a visitors an IRA officer from India on his training in USA with IRA department. He told that Modi himself is not visiting different countries only but his top and middle level officers of different departments also visiting Europe, USA, China, Japan, Australia on training, learning and for collaborations. So his vision is a global thrust of Indian presence.
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Jun 01, 2015 08:48pm
Israel acknowledges the fact that India was one of the few countries which offered the oppressed Jews from Europe to find place to stay in India. Many people in the world would be surprised that there is a Jewish community in India. India also sheltered the Catholic Syrians, Parsis from Iran, and in more recent times the Tibetans who ran from Chinese occupation to settle in India. India's large-heartedness paying rich dividends. Of course, our help in giving space in India was/is unconditional.
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Jun 01, 2015 09:10pm
@Pakistani Leave that to the professionals.
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Jun 02, 2015 07:42am
@Qamar ......correct yourself...Modi has visited China and Israel before being Indian PM.
Other than this we Indian has a lot of constructive work to do for our futur rather than wasting our efforts on self destructive country like Pakistan.
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Jun 02, 2015 08:25am
@Aurora only if he is kidnapped
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Jun 02, 2015 08:50am
@Qamar FYI Modi Ji before becoming a CM of Gujarat was at times living in New York . He visited China a few times after becoming CM. Please do not share your half baked info here.
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Jun 02, 2015 09:22am
This has been long time coming. Israel and India are natural allies. Both Isreal and India have a lot to offer to each other be it in defence or civilian sectors. Additionally India has a balanced relationship with both Israel and Palestinians. Well done Modiji !!
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Jun 02, 2015 10:08am
Its 100% genuine.... Israel tech did help in argo tech in Nashik area . Production of grape and other fruits increased by almost 15 to 25%
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Jun 02, 2015 10:32am
@Fawad
They all respect India more due to its culture.
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Jun 02, 2015 11:42am
@Asma Sheikh - That's not the reason why we are on good terms with US/. We offer a big market (which is relatively peaceful) for US & other Western products.. We on the other hand, are asking the West to manufacture these products in India, hence decreasing unemployment & increasing Tax revenues (additionally helping us gain tech expertise)
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Jun 02, 2015 12:16pm
Modi is a true PM with great leadership skills, diplomacy skills, talkative skills, visionary skills and above all he is true patriot. In a democratic country with 120 crore people, it is not easy to to convince everybody, so opposition may cry foul all the time. People need to understand that Modi is now laying foundation and 'acche din' cannot be possible in a year , it may take several years to yield the results.
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Jun 02, 2015 01:04pm
@Fawad You are right. When Indira Gandhi the former PM was asked whether her govt. was pro US or pro USSR. Her reply was " Neither. We are just pro India." A smart approach.
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Jun 02, 2015 02:44pm
@Pk
Modi once said "We are Gujaratis, we understand business very well".
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Jun 02, 2015 02:51pm
@Qamar
Correction, as Gujarat CM, Mr Modi had visited China, Japan and Israel.
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Jun 02, 2015 03:17pm
@Qamar Modi had visited Japan, Israel and other countries when he was a CM. He has done a fabulous of job of India's foreign policy in just one year of his rule.
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Jun 02, 2015 10:40pm
@Qamar "Modi was chief Minister of Gujrat only. Never been to overseas before becoming PM"
Wrong. He had visited China and Japan several times when he was CM of Gujarat. He had visited USA dozens of times in the 90s.
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