India, Israel to join forces against terror
External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands at a joint press conference in Jerusalem on Monday. Contending that both India and Israel face the challenge of terrorism, the two countries on Monday agreed to intensify coordination to deal with this menace. Ms Swaraj met senior Israeli leaders and discussed a wide range of bilateral and regional issues. —
Jerusalem, Jan. 18: Contending that India and Israel face challenges of terrorism, the two countries on Monday agreed to intensify coordination to deal with the menace as external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj met top Israeli leadership and discussed a wide- range of bilateral and regional issues.
Ms Swaraj, who is on her first visit to West Asia as the external affairs minister, called on President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top leaders.
“It was emphasised that the region around India and around Israel are both in turmoil. That there were special circumstances posed by terrorism that required coordination between the countries, especially between India and Israel,” an official here said, sharing details of the meetings.
“It was agreed that the exchange of information ( between the two countries) will continue in the future,” he added.
Ms Swaraj said, “India attaches the highest importance to the full development of bilateral ties with Israel. Our bilateral cooperation has grown in a number of areas over the past two decades but the potential of our relations are much more.”
Mr Netanyahu, who also
Ms Swaraj said, India attaches the highest importance to the full development of bilateral ties with Israel.
heads the foreign ministry, said, “I take special pleasure in welcoming you here and sending my regards to my good friend and colleague PM Modi. The expression of this growing relationship has been in the visit of the ( Indian) President, the first- ever by an Indian Head of State,” he told Ms Swaraj. He said they are also intensifying cooperation in science, technology, cyber defence and agriculture.
“India and Israel are at the cutting edge of so many innovations and by working together we can do a lot more for our people and the world,” he said, adding that Israel admires India and view it as a great friend.
Emphasising on the importance attached to India by Israel, he said his country is putting “special effort towards building a special relationship with a special country”. President Rivlin pushed for a boost in bilateral economic ties during his meeting with Swaraj and said the two partners should quickly finalise the Free Trade Agreement ( FTA). — PTI