Israel’s FM Cohen in India to meet Prime Minister Modi - to return same day
Foreign Minister decided to shorten his diplomatic visit to India in light of the Israeli army operation in Gaza
![i24NEWS](https://cdn.i24news.tv/upload/image/1352b9caa849f9325c12157cf9dfc47bc0e3c73e.png?width=36&height=36)
![Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen.](https://cdn.i24news.tv/uploads/c5/c1/e5/6c/90/d4/ec/43/d3/8c/30/0a/82/6f/e3/b5/c5c1e56c90d4ec43d38c300a826fe3b5.jpg?width=1000)
Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday, where he will meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Cohen decided to cut the trip short, after Israel announced a new military operation in Gaza, receiving a security briefing upon his arrival. He will meet with Prime Minister Modi and immediately return to Israel the same day.
"This important political visit to India aims to deepen Israel's strategic partnership with one of the world's greatest powers,” Cohen said in a statement before taking off for the visit.
On the agenda is the “tightening of the partnership on security issues and the possibilities of expanding the circle of normalization in the space between India and Israel.”
The Foreign Minister had been expected to sign agreements in the areas of construction, nursing, and management of water systems. It is unclear whether those agreements will go forward during the day-long visit.
“India can play a significant role in expanding the circle of peace and promoting the Abraham Accords that will lead to prosperity and strengthening regional stability,” Cohen continued. “I am coming to India with a large delegation of Israeli businessmen and companies with the aim of exploiting the enormous potential of trade relations between Israel and India and promoting the free trade agreement between the countries."
The minister had also been slated to visit Mumbai during his stay, where he was due to inaugurate the "Jewish Path" in the city and visit the Jewish community center where a deadly terror attack took place in 2008. It appears this leg of the trip has now been canceled in light of the pressing security situation in Israel.