Modi hails ties with Israel in 1st address by an Indian premier to Knesset

NEW DELHI

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed his nation's bilateral relations with Israel in an unprecedented address to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on Wednesday.

The two nations are "linked by ties that go back more than 2,000 years," Modi told Israeli lawmakers during his two-day trip to the country.

He is the first Indian prime minister to address the Israeli parliament.

His Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the Knesset, saying India "stood by" Israel.

Modi also hailed US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan, which the Indian prime minister said “offers a pathway.”

The Indian premier said the plan "holds the promise of a just and durable peace for all the people of the region, including by addressing the Palestine issue."

Modi told Israeli lawmakers: “We feel your pain, we share your grief. India stands with Israel firmly, with full conviction in this moment and beyond."

In its war on Gaza, the Israeli army has killed more than 72,000 people, mostly women and children, and injured over 171,000 others in Gaza in a two-year offensive since October 2023.

On bilateral ties, Modi also said: “We are committed to expanding trade, strengthening investment flows, and promoting joint infrastructure development."

"Our teams are working hard to negotiate an ambitious free trade agreement. It will unlock the vast untapped potential in our trade relationship.”

Hailing the transfer of agri tech know-how to India from Israel, Modi also referred to defense and security ties between the two nations, referring to a pact signed last November to boost ties in these sectors.

“In today's uncertain world, a strong defense partnership between trusted partners like India and Israel is of vital importance,” he said.

"India's connection to this land (Israel) is also written in blood and sacrifice. During World War I, more than 4,000 Indian soldiers laid down their lives in this region. The cavalry charge at Haifa in September 1918 remains a significant chapter in military history," Modi added.