(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara left this evening (Saturday, 13 January 2018), on an official visit to India. The visit marks 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and takes place approximately six months after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to Israel.
Prior to his departure, PM Netanyahu made the following remarks:
"This evening, the IDF attacked a main Hamas terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. There are some who say that the IDF attacks sand dunes – this is incorrect. We are responding to aggression against the State of Israel and are taking vigorous and systematic action against hostile infrastructures.
“This evening I am leaving on an historic visit to India. I will meet with the Prime Minister, my friend Narendra Modi, with the Indian President and with many other leaders. We will sign very many agreements. We are strengthening ties between Israel and this important global power. This serves our security, economic, trade and tourism interests, as well as many other areas. This is a great blessing for the State of Israel."
Prime Minister Netanyahu will visit Delhi, Mumbai and Gujarat and will be accompanied by Indian Prime Minister Modi on extensive portions of his visit.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "On this visit I intend to strengthen bilateral relations even more. This visit is an opportunity to enhance cooperation with a global economic, security, technology and tourism power. Indian Prime Minister Modi is a close friend of Israel and of mine and I appreciate the fact that he will accompany me on extensive parts of my visit."
Prime Minister Netanyahu will hold meetings with Indian Prime Minister Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and External Affairs Minister Sushama Swaraj. Professional meetings will be held between the sides and agreements will be signed (see below).
Moshe Holtzberg, 12, who lost his parents in the
26 November 2008 terrorist attack on the Chabad House in Mumbai , will join the trip, as Prime Minister Netanyahu promised him during
their meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi in Israel last July.
Also joining Prime Minister Netanyahu will be the largest business delegation that has ever accompanied a Prime Minister of Israel on an official visit. This will be in order to enhance and strengthen economic ties and also create joint business opportunities between Israeli and Indian businesspeople.
Prime Minister will meet with senior Indian businesspeople and hold additional economic events during which he will meet – along with Indian Prime Minister Modi – with a forum of managing directors of the two countries' largest companies. The two prime ministers will also attend the
2018 Raisina Dialogue.
Prime Minister Netanyahu will meet with Jewish community leaders and senior Bollywood figures. He will visit Gandhi's tomb in Delhi and attend ceremonies in Mumbai in memory of the victims of the
2008 attacks on the Taj Palace Hotel and the Chabad House.
Bilateral agreements will be signed in energy, cyber and aviation. The leaders will also discuss a detailed working plan for the next five years, pursuant to the government's decision, led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, to strengthen bilateral ties.
List of agreements to be signed: Energy agreement in the fields of natural gas and oil – The sides will strengthen cooperation in exploration, production and research and development. They will advance academic ties between universities and institutions and will work together on natural gas and oil start-ups.
Cinema coproduction agreement – Strengthened ties between the two countries' film industries by granting joint government support funds for Israeli-Indian productions.
Aviation agreement – Amendment regarding the cost of flights and strengthening bilateral cooperation in developing air links pursuant to the 1994 agreement. The emphasis will be on adjusting prices as well as safety and security arrangements.
Cyber agreement – Strengthening and expanding cyber cooperation. Development of training and proficiency programs, technological and industrial cooperation in cyber security, promoting conferences and meetings between the two countries academics and industrialists.
Mutual investment agreement – Declaration of intent on advancing direct investment between the two countries.