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- Netanyahu hails 'new era' in Israel-India ties after meeting with Modi
Netanyahu hails 'new era' in Israel-India ties after meeting with Modi
Talks follow visit by Netanyahu to memorial of late Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed "a new era" in Israel-India relations after a meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Monday, during which the two leaders discussed deepening diplomatic and economic ties and strengthening strategic and defense cooperation between their two countries.
The two leaders exchanged flatteries in joint statements to the press following closed-door talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, during which they discussed their countries' "strategic partnership".
"Three things bind our countries together," Netanyahu said. "We have an ancient past, a vibrant present, and we are seizing together a prominent future."
"Our peoples have had thousands of years of history. Ours are two of the most ancient civilizations on earth," Netanyahu said, thanking Modi for his "exceptional friendship" and lauding him for having "revolutionized the relationship between Israel and India."
Modi, for his part, called Netanyahu's visit "a long anticipated moment" and "a fitting climax to the commemoration of 25 years of diplomatic relations between Israel and India".
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Addressing Netanyahu as "my friend Bibi", Modi said that the two leaders agreed to "strengthen existing pillars of cooperation" pointing specifically to agriculture, science and technology, and security.
"Last year in July I carried the greetings of friendship of 1.25 billion Indians to Israel," Modi said, referring to his historic visit to the Jewish State -- the first by an Indian leader.
"In that visit Prime Minister Netanyahu and I promised each other to build a strategic partnership. I have a reputation of being impatient in getting results -- I know so are you," Modi said.
The two countries exchanged a host of agreements in various fields including oil and gas, air transport, production, research and medicine, aerospace technologies, investments, and defense.
The two leaders' meeting came on the second day of Netanyahu’s six day tour of India, and followed a visit by the Israeli leader to the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, the late leader of India’s independence movement.
"Such grandeur and simplicity in honor of modern India's founding father, one of the world's great spiritual leaders. In deep friendship and respect," Netanyahu wrote in the memorial guestbook.
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Netanyahu will meet later with Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and attend a business forum along with executives in technology, agriculture hoping to strike deals with Asia's third-largest economy.
Israel has also reportedly been working to revive, at least in part, a $500 million missile deal nixed by India in the run-up to Netanyahu’s visit.
Israel is a major weapons supplier to India, exporting an average of $1 billion of military equipment each year, but Modi wants to end India's status as the world's top defense importer.
Netanyahu expects to sign new agreements in fields of energy, aviation and cinema production, with stops at the Taj Mahal, a visit to Modi's home state of Gujarat and meetings with Bollywood luminaries in Mumbai.
He will also make an emotional visit to a Jewish center targeted in the 2008 Mumbai attacks during his tour, a symbolic gesture to India's tiny and shrinking Jewish community.
"India and Israel both know the pain of terror. We fight back, we never give in," Netanyahu said.
"Jews of India have never experienced anti-Semitism," Netanyahu said, something he attributed to Modi's "tolerance and humanity".
Netanyahu will be only the second Israeli PM to visit India and the first since Ariel Sharon in 2003.
See also:
Netanyahu disappointed by ally Modi's Jerusalem rejection
(Staff with agencies)