Why Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu postponed India visit | Details
Israeli PM Netanyahu's planned India visit in December is postponed due to heightened Delhi blast security concerns, though he affirmed strong solidarity.
New Delhi: A planned diplomatic visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to India in December has been indefinitely postponed, according to a report by Israel's 124News. The decision comes in the wake of heightened security concerns in the national capital following the Delhi blast.
Despite the delay, the Israeli prime minister has conveyed a message of unwavering solidarity with India. In the immediate aftermath of the Delhi blast, he emphasised the shared resilience of both nations in confronting terrorism.
Issuing a statement to his "dear friend Narendtra Modi and the people of India," Netanyahu and his Wife, Sara, along with the people of Israel, extended their condolences to the victim families. "To our dear friend Narendra Modi and to the brave people of India: Sara and I, and the people of Israel, send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Israel stands strong with you in sorrow and in strength in this time," his statement read.
According to the experts, this would have been a significant high-level interaction, "building upon a rich history of diplomatic engagement".
Netanyahu's last official visit to India took place from January 14 to 19, 2018, a six-day trip that marked the second occasion an Israeli Prime Minister had visited the subcontinent. This visit itself followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's landmark trip to Israel in 2017.
The postponement comes shortly after a productive three-day visit to Israel by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. During his recent trip, Goyal met with Netanyahu and other Israeli key ministers. In his meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister, Goyal conveyed warm wishes from Prime Minister Modi and provided an update on his discussions with Minister Nir Barkat, as well as the outcomes of the Business Forum and CEOs Forum.
The major achievement of the visit was the signing of the Terms of Reference to initiate Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. This development is expected to significantly enhance trade, investment, and technological cooperation between India and Israel. Goyal also engaged in discussions aimed at strengthening innovation ties, envisioning a synergy that leverages Israel's advanced high-tech expertise with India's vast talent pool and market scale.
Furthermore, Goyal sought Prime Minister Netanyahu's insights and guidance on deepening economic and strategic engagement across sectors such as agriculture, water management, defence, science, technology and innovation.