Agencies/New York
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to boost co-operation on Sunday in the most substantive interaction between the two countries’ leaders in 11 years.
The two prime ministers both appeared upbeat as they met at a New York hotel on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where Modi is making his first visit since he led his Bharatiya Janata Party to a sweeping victory in April-May elections.
Netanyahu said he was “delighted” to meet Modi and invited him to visit Israel, in what would be a first for an Indian prime minister.
“I believe that if we work together, we can do so with benefits for both our peoples and well beyond,” Netanyahu said during a brief press interaction after the meeting.
“We are very excited by the prospects of greater and greater ties with India. We think the sky’s the limit,” Netanyahu said, describing the countries as “ancient civilizations” that are also democracies.
Modi proudly told Netanyahu of the historic Jewish community in India.
“India is the only country where anti-Semitism has never been allowed to come up and where Jews have never suffered and have lived as an integral part of our society,” Modi said.
Netanyahu briefed the Indian prime minister on its perception of the situation in Middle East.
External affairs ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said that in discussing defence relations, Modi told Netanyahu about his “Make in India” programme and pointed out that 49% investment was possible in defence industries.
Modi made a pitch for Israeli investments and the two prime ministers discussed boosting bilateral trade.
Israel has developed methods and technologies for farming in arid land and for water management. Modi wanted more co-operation in these areas, Akbaruddin said.
Modi also wanted Israel to work with India in water management and solid waste treatment in urban areas as part of his vision for smart cities.
New Delhi only established relations with Israel in 1992, a delay often attributed by analysts to potential concerns within India’s Muslim minority and the developing nation’s need to preserve relations with wealthy Arab states.
But India quickly developed relations with Israel during the last BJP government. In 2003, Ariel Sharon paid the first visit by an Israeli prime minister to New Delhi.
The Congress Party that took power in 2004 took a greater distance from Israel, despite meetings at the ministerial level. Nonetheless, two-way trade has soared from $200mn in 1992 to $6bn, according to New Delhi’s figures, and India has been an alluring market for Israel’s defence industry.
