Israeli PM Naftali Bennett Will Visit India On April 2

Israeli PM Naftali Bennett will visit India on April 2, Israeli PMO informed.

Israeli Prime Minister(PM) Naftali Bennett will visit India on April 2. The information has been given by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.

Prime Minister Bennett said that it gives me great pleasure on my first official visit to India at the invitation of my friend PM Modi.

He said that we will continue to move forward to further strengthen our relations with India. This will be Bennett’s first visit to India after becoming PM.

During this, discussions can be held between the two countries regarding the Ukraine crisis.

Bennett’s visit comes at a time when the two countries are celebrating 30 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart last met during COP 26, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November last year.

Full diplomatic relations were established between India and Israel on 29 January 1992. Earlier this year a commemorative logo was launched to mark the occasion.

The logo depicts the Star of David and the Ashoka Chakra and forms the number 30, which marks the 30th anniversary of the bilateral relationship.

Russia and Ukraine may hold talks on the crisis.

February saw many popular buildings in India, such as the Gateway of India in Mumbai and the Teen Murti in Delhi, and the Masada Fort in Israel lit up with the colors of the Indian and Israeli flags.

The Ukraine crisis is likely to be discussed during Bennett’s visit.

Indian and Israeli prime ministers have also held talks with the leadership of Russia and Ukraine regarding the crisis. PM Bennett also made a surprise visit to Moscow.

The same PM Modi and Russian President Putin have spoken on this issue several times since the start of the attack on Ukraine on 24 February.

What are the relations between India and Israel?

Relations between India and Israel have deepened under the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Last year, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar visited Israel by several high-level dignitaries including Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane and former Air Force Chief RKS Bhadauria.

Prior to that PM Modi had visited Israel in 2017, during which ties were upgraded to a strategic partnership.

After this, the then Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu visited India in 2018. Defense, agriculture, and trade have been the main pillars of relations between the two countries.