Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his two-day State Visit to Israel on Thursday, receiving a warm farewell from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. In a special gesture, Netanyahu personally saw off the visiting Indian leader, mirroring the welcome he had extended on the tarmac upon Modi’s arrival.
The two leaders shared a warm hug and brief conversation before PM Modi boarded his aircraft, underlining the close personal rapport that has marked India–Israel relations in recent years.
Earlier in the day, Modi and Netanyahu held extensive bilateral talks and agreed to elevate the relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership. The leaders discussed enhancing cooperation across sectors, including trade, innovation and advanced technologies.
“Today’s discussions with PM Netanyahu were very fruitful. We’ve taken a historic decision to elevate our time-tested partnership to a Special Strategic Partnership,” Modi posted on X, adding that the move reflects the aspirations of both nations. The two sides also decided to establish a Critical and Emerging Technologies Partnership aimed at accelerating collaboration in futuristic domains.
Agriculture figured prominently in the discussions. Modi described it as a key pillar of bilateral cooperation and announced a decision to expand the number of Centres of Excellence in India from existing levels to 100, a step expected to benefit farmers through the adoption of advanced Israeli techniques.
During his engagements, Modi called on Israeli President Isaac Herzog, with whom he discussed expanding ties in education, start-ups, innovation, technology and connectivity. The two leaders planted a tree in the Presidential Gardens under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative, symbolising shared commitment to sustainability and friendship.
Modi also visited the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem, where he laid a wreath in memory of Holocaust victims and signed the guest book. Accompanied by Netanyahu and Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan, he toured the Holocaust Memorial and Museum, including the Book of Names and the Hall of Remembrance.
On Wednesday, Modi addressed a Special Plenary of the Knesset in Jerusalem, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do so, marking another milestone in the evolving India–Israel partnership.
