By Harinder Mishra(Eds: Update with more details, quotes) Jerusalem, October 20 (PTI) Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday had a “warm and rich” discussion with senior Israeli leaders on realizing the full potential of the bilateral strategic partnership and exchanged views on changes in the geopolitical landscape and world affairs. . Jaishankar called Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and they discussed “strengthening the strategic alliance, expanding bilateral relations and deepening warm friendship between Israel and India,” the adviser said. media of the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Bennett thanked his Indian counterpart Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the minister for their personal commitment to the partnership between Israel and India, the adviser said. “I speak for the Israelis: we love India. We regard India as a great friend and look forward to expanding our relations in all fields and dimensions. I look forward to a very productive meeting, â€said Prime Minister Bennett. Jaishankar at the start of the meeting.
Jaishankar conveyed Prime Minister Modi’s greetings to the Israeli leader and invited him to pay his first official visit to India.
“Today we are at a very important stage in our relationship because things have gone really well for us. But it opened up a lot of possibilities. So I think the challenges (are) how to work to bring our relationship forward. India’s sentiment and interest in our ties with Israel are very, very strong, â€he said. “A warm and rich discussion on realizing the full potential of our strategic partnership. Prime Minister Bennett’s focused and focused approach was deeply encouraging,” Jaishankar said in a tweet after the meeting. Jaishankar said sharing Bennett’s strategic outlook was also very valuable. “India and Israel will work even more closely to realize their partnership’s vision for the next 30 years,†he tweeted. Earlier, Jaishankar had visited Israeli President Isaac Herzog at Beit HaNassi, the president’s official residence here.
The two leaders discussed ways to promote and strengthen growing bilateral relations in various sectors in addition to exchanging views on global strategic affairs.
“Glad to call on President @Isaac_Herzog. Our conversation covered changes in the geopolitical landscape,” Jaishankar tweeted. “I deeply appreciate his visible commitment to take our bilateral relations to the next level,” he said. President Herzog thanked Jaishankar for his personal commitment, as well as that of Prime Minister Modi and his ministers, in promoting and strengthening ties with Israel, according to a press release issued by the president’s office. During the diplomatic working meeting, Herzog also praised the flourishing of Israeli-Indian relations in various fields. “Two ancient nations, two proud democracies. Energizing discussion today with @DrSJaishankar, FM of our close friend and partner India. Great promise for Israeli-Indian collaboration on technology, trade, energy and more . There is so much we can do with our combined creativity, â€President Herzog said in a tweet. Ahead of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and India next year, President Herzog underscored his intention to personally help promote and strengthen this important relationship, the statement said.
President Herzog and Jaishankar discussed global strategic affairs in more detail, he said.
Jaishankar said it was “a great honor” to appeal to President Herzog. “I bring greetings and good wishes from the Indian government and people as we approach the 30th anniversary of improving ties,†Jaishankar wrote in Beit HaNassi’s guestbook. This is Jaishankar’s first visit to Israel as Minister of Foreign Affairs. He is visiting the country at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid. On Wednesday, Jaishankar also unveiled a plaque in Ra’anana, northern Israel, in memory of Indian soldiers who gave their lives in the Battle of Tabsor in WWI. “Unveiling of the commemorative plaque of the soldiers of the Indian army who fought in the Battle of Tabsor during the Megiddo offensive in September 1918,” Jaishankar tweeted. “This is part of a larger India trail that will bring out the role of our soldiers in shaping the history of this region,†he added. On Tuesday, Jaishankar met with Israeli Parliament Speaker Mickey Levy and they discussed at length the common challenges the two countries face, such as radicalization, and took stock of developments in the region.
On Monday, Jaishankar had “very productive talks” with his counterpart Lapid in which the two countries agreed to resume negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) from next month with the aim of concluding the agreement. long-standing by next June.
India and Israel elevated their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Israel in July 2017. Since then, the relationship between the two countries has focused on expanding the knowledge-based partnership, which includes collaboration in innovation and research, including strengthening the “Make in India†initiative. PTI HM RS ZH AKJ ZH
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