MoDI Is THe woRlD’s mosT ImpoRTanT pRIme mInIsTeR: IsRaelI newspapeR

Israel is excited about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-day visit beginning 4 July. Why not, as this will be the first visit of an Indian PM to the Jewish nation. A prominent Israeli business daily the Marker has described this historical event as, “Wake up: the most important PM of the world is coming!” The Marker, in its Hebrew edition, while discussing India-Israel ties says that Israelis had set up huge expectations from US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Jewish state, but “he didn’t say much”, while Modi, a leader of 1.25 billion people enjoying massive popularity and representing one of the fastest growing economies of the world, deserves a lot of attention. The Jerusalem Post has even created a separate link, “Modi’s Visit”, where it has put up stories related to India. Most of the local commentators have emphasised on Modi “skipping Ramallah” and are stating that it is a standalone visit focusing only on India’s ties with Israel. A leading newspaper has said that unlike most world leaders, Modi, who governs the world’s largest democracy and second largest nation, has apparently refused to visit Ramallah during his Israel trip, and will not schedule meetings with Palestinian Authority (PA) chief Mahmoud Abbas or other PA leaders. Indian diplomatic channels point out that Modi met Abbas during the PA leader’s trip to India in May, and senior Indian officials have visited Abbas at his Ramallah residence during their trips to Israel. The excitement about Modi was visible at the third International Yoga Day celebrations in Israel on 21 June. The largest yoga event in Israel took place at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv. Thousands of individuals had come to partake in multiple forms of yoga led by Dr Rohit Sabharwal, a renowned yoga teacher from the Art of Living stream of yoga. Around 4,000 people of Indianorigin would be attending an address by Modi on the evening of 5 July in Tel Aviv. The Israeli embassy in New Delhi says Modi is visiting Israel at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. It will include a call on the Israeli President, Reuven Rivlin, and a working meeting and dinner with the Israeli PM. It will also include highlevel bilateral meetings and other various components that reflect the fabric of the Indo-Israeli relations. This significant visit takes place in the backdrop of marking 25 years of diplomatic relations between India and Israel, and will further upgrade the efforts to promote growth ever growing partnership in tourism, and a joint between the two countries. government project in Netanyahu and Modi have the fields of water and already met twice on foreign agriculture. soil on the sidelines of UNThe defence ties between related events and are said India and Israel have often to be constantly in touch with drawn worldwide attention each other over the phone. and acquired strategic A $40 million joint fund dimensions. Modi’s visit has is likely to be established been preceded by several to encourage Israeli and other high-profile visits, Indian business cooperation, including the trip of National agreements permitting Security Adviser Ajit Dhoval, and extending incentives and Navy Chief, Admiral to Bollywood filmmakers Sunil Lanba’s five-day visit looking to shoot in Israel, earlier this month.

Man Mohan can be contacted at rovingeditor@gmail.com