India, Israel PMs pledge stronger ties in rare meeting
The two prime ministers both appeared upbeat as they met at a New York hotel on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, where Modi is making his first visit since he led his Hindu nationalists to a sweeping victory in April-May elections.
Netanyahu said he was "delighted" to meet Modi and invited him to visit Israel, in what would be a first for an Indian prime minister.
"I believe that if we work together, we can do so with benefits for both our peoples and well beyond," Netanyahu said during a brief press interaction during the meeting.
"We are very excited by the prospects of greater and greater ties with India. We think the sky's the limit," Netanyahu said, describing the countries as "ancient civilizations" that are also democracies.
Modi proudly told Netanyahu of the historic Jewish community in India.
"India is the only country where anti-Semitism has never been allowed to come up and where Jews have never suffered and have lived as an integral part of our society," Modi said.
New Delhi only established relations with Israel in 1992, a delay often attributed by analysts to potential concerns within India's Muslim minority and the developing nation's need to preserve relations with wealthy Arab states.
But India quickly developed relations with Israel during the last government of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, which emphasizes Hindu identity. In 2003, Ariel Sharon paid the first visit by an Israeli prime minister to New Delhi.
The left-leaning Congress party that took power in 2004 took a greater distance from Israel, despite meetings at the ministerial level. Nonetheless, two-way trade has soared from $200 million in 1992 to $6 billion, according to New Delhi's figures, and India has been an alluring market for Israel's defense industry.
Israel was one of the few countries visited by Modi before his election as prime minister.
Despite his hawkish reputation, Modi surprised observers by meeting widely with foreign leaders since his election, including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
But Indian officials said that Modi had no plans to meet in New York with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.
Modi was leader of the state of Gujarat when anti-Muslim riots killed more than 1,000 people in 2002. He was never charged and denies wrongdoing, but the episode led the United States to deny him a visa in 2005.
COMMENTS (74)
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1731325890-0/trump-(24)1731325890-0-270x192.webp "trump threatens 100 tariffs on brics nations over us dollar concerns")
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@Soofia Malik: "the quid pro quo for israel for letting india claim credit for israel’s mars mission." Who said its Israel's mars mission? Its Pakistan's mars mission. The rocket engine was powered by the Pakistan invented water based perpetual machine developed by that great inventor AQ Khan.
Please allow respnse to someone who has written to me.
@Rukh: Yes i am quite familiar with the story of Sidhraj Jaisingh. Incidentally Siddhraj had been in love with Devdi who later became famous as Ranak Devi and Ra Khengar wooed her to humiliate Siddhraj to avenge his father Ra Navghan.
Anyway, did I say that Siddhraj was my hero? No I did not. I do not respect looters and rapists regardless of their religion. In any case Siddhraj did not destroy worship places.
@Syed Jalal Kashmiri - "Hellfire. Insha Allah. May God punish them in this world and the next."
Actually Allah is punishing you guys for being false believers...and not being true to your religion.
@2Paisa (Khi): Looking at what is going in Islamic nations of the Arab variety or otherwise, such a threat materializing is as good as the chicken in my backyard growing a pair of breasts. I\
Two devils united against innocent Muslims around the world. Shame on them. Their end will be the same: Hellfire. Insha Allah. May God punish them in this world and the next.
@Bakhtiyar Ghazi Khan: Not so fast! US just signed a BSA with Afghanistan's new president: 10,000 US troops will remain their indefinitely so as not to repeat the mistake of withdrawing from Iraq in 2011. And you guys thought you would be deepening your strategic depth.
@Gp As odious as it may sound today looting, raping and murdering was standard practice at that time. Sidhraj Jaisingh(1094-1143) a leader of Gujrat raided his vassal Ra Khengar in order to marry his wife. Sidhraj had Ra Khengar and all his sons beheaded while his wife was kidnapped. When she refused to marry him she was forced to commit suicide by suttee.
The Raj-put kings of India were no more humane than the Muslims of the time.
@Freeman: Won't you feel proud to know that we learnt how to frame conspiracy theories from you . Except that we did better than you as usual.
@Bakhtiyar Ghazi Khan: " The comments by Indians on this page makes me realize that they aren’t fit to be called human beings." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Sir reading your comments here I am also convinced that you are far lower than Indians in the humanity scale.Maybe Apes.....
@Freeman:" @AVPMPolpot You are at least word-class in spinning conspiracy theories, if not in science or technology or defense." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++= Sir not only world class but also out of this world eg the Mars Orbiter!. Anyway thanks for your appreciation usually I have been charged for being a boor here!.
@2019 ake bad: Were they butchers you wouldn't be here giving this comment
@Timorlane: Bein Timorlane Thousands of butchered unarmed, innocent Muslim children, women and men bear undeniable testimony to the "common interest" of the two massacre specialists
@Timorlane:
"They have a natural bond. Both elicit pleasure out of butchering innocent unarmed Muslim children, women and men in thousands."
The record for "butchering innocent unarmed Muslim children, women in the millions" actually belongs to Pakistan which butchered over 3 million fellow Muslims and citizen in East Pakistan.
Also, if Pakistanis are so concerned about Muslims in other countries, why is that you close your eyes on Chinese massacre of thousands of Uighur Muslims. And, why are you calling the Chinese butchers of Muslims your "higher than Himalayas, sweeter than honey, deeper than the ocean" friends?
@Bakhtiyar Ghazi Khan: Indians are showing the mirror. Pakistanis like you would rather like to remain blind than to see and accept the truth. Here is more "hatred" for you: Pakistan army has displaced more than half a million people, -- number killed in the ongoing war. When Palestinians throw stones, it is prominently displayed in the front pages. But when hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis are forcibly asked to leave their homeland, it is not even mentioned as a footnote. Wonder why?
@Jag Nathan: You are right.When Palestinian leaders themselves are not interested in resolving the dispute with Israel, why should India care for them? Hamas leaders live the life of millionaires while the common Palestinians struggle every day.
I have never more shameless people than fanatic muslims. For them an act by israel done in self defence is much worse than merciless beheading of innocent civilians. most unjust people who judge crime based on who is doing and against whom not based on how heineous the crime is ! No doubt they are doomed everywhere!
@Jahangir Chauhan: Warrior kings who looted, who raped the women of the vanquished country and destroyed worship places. Nothing to respect there.
ET mods - please allow rebuttal to someone who has written to me.
@Striver: Interesting. A country celebrates Defense day for a war they themselves started 49 years after the war, which refuses to ake ownership of ethnic leanding of Hindus and Sikhs which has reduced their population from 20% in 1947 to less than 3% today is one that willingly accepts the good, bad and the ugly. But the country where the PM openly talks about the need to address social and economic problem - right from building toilets to rapes from the Red Fort on Independence day is one that is hiding its truth from the world?
@Qamar: A couple of days back Muslims were killed in India? Are you talking aout the riots in Vadodar? My dear friend, the exact opposite happened. 2 Hindus were stabbed by Muslims which started the riots. Police acted promptly and rowdies were promptly arrested.
In India, Muslims have risen to the top in whichever field they chose. This could not have happened if Indian Muslims were not considered Indian. 3 Indian Presidents, several Indian CJs, Indian CEC, Indian Navy Chief, 2 Indian cricket captains, top Indian music directors, lyricists, singers, film stars, top exponents of Hindustani classical music (bith ocal and instrumental), top industrialists have been Muslim,
Your divisiveness works with fewer and fewer people now.
Why should Pakistan care whether Modi meets with Netanyahu? Vast majority of Muslims on the planet hate Jews but have never met one -- vast majority of Muslims on the planet are also illiterate - doubt the two are coincidence.
@Striver: Is not Pakistan an ally of NATO who is bombing Muslims countries all over the place? Hmm I wonder What is Pakistan sucking ? Front of NATO?
@Hmm: There is only ONE race: the human race. You, as is the case with most ignorants, confuse ethnic groups and race. But if you like the word "race" so much, try not to lose the race to awareness; the race to intelligence; the race to proficiency and the race to comprehension.
@Soofia Malik: the quid pro quo for israel for letting india claim credit for israel’s mars mission.
Before, Pakistanis thought that Kuffars couldnt build science.They had only ascribed superiority to the first people of the book(Jews).Now, its Indians(Not people of book) doing the Mars mission and its hurting!!.Dont worry.Its not about religion.Even Nigeria, a Muslim country has a more robust and advanced space programme that Pakistan.Soo, sorry.Its not about religion, Boss.
@Tony Singh: They did it with every country except the one that really mattered - India.
@Jehangir Chauhan Learn to respect your grandparents, ancestors. Basic dignity.
@Gp65: We know the truth. We accept the bad and the ugly and the good about our society and country. Its is time you lot did the same.
Having greater number of Muslims in India then the countries you mentioned has never stopped you countrymen from killing Muslims or Christians. Go back 20 year from 1947 and the story in no different.
You can tell your lies to the gullible west and they will believe you but don't play the same game with us. we know you much better than they ever will.
@Tony Singh: USA etc come to us for help. Perhaps you need to revisit the history not as taught by the fascists you now have in government but the real history. I can give a few lessons in that.
You went to Israel for help but in a manner that can only be described in the way I have in my comment i which you kindly responded
@Qamar: Please reread your own comment as you will find the answer there. (Remember, Jinnah and supporters helped introduce sectarianism in the Subcontinent by demanding a separate homeland for Indian Muslims and abandoning one third of them.)
@Qamar: Pray enlighten us with how many shias, ahmediyyas, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians have been butchered in Pakistan this year? As I was writing it, I realized that not many religions were left out of this killing spree, were they?
@Jahangir Chauhan: The larger Middle East (including Pakistan) is the epicenter of terrorism today. Muslims killing Muslims is terrorism as much as Muslims killing non-Muslims and vice versa. Israelis, whose ancestors were driven out by Arabs/Muslims, are living in their ancient homeland. Deal with that!
@AVPMPolpot: I should hand it to you guys. You are at least word-class in spinning conspiracy theories, if not in science or technology or defense.
@Sheikh Arif: Yes, sirree you ought to know what evil and its axes are. Did you return the over $50 billion your nation has received from the USA since the 1950s? That's evil money!
What is wrong in India being a friend of Israel?. Pakistan is friends with the communist China, your masters. India and Israel had a relationship since Solomon's time. Ofcourse India will get whatever defence technologies and equipement it needs from Israel. What Israel has is leaps and bounds above what China has. Pakistan can still buy the Chiniese knockoffs, noone cares...!!!!
@Timorlane: Both elicit pleasure out of butchering innocent unarmed Muslim children, women and men in thousands.......Big joke with the likes of ISIS beheading people who go to help them.Barbarians
There is wide spread support for Israel across India. Indians are not really concerned with what Israel does or does not do in Gaza. To us the Palestinian conflict is an unresolvable issue and we are not going to tie our nations fortunes to this intractable issue. Israel serves our greater strategic and technological interests. Their technology has helped largely control and stem the flow of jihadis across the border. Israel has consistently supported us with intelligence, material and moral support every time we had a war with Pakistan. Palestinians on the other hand have always supported Pakistan in any conflict with India. Why should we not be friends with Israel? Any takers for the question?
Egypt, Jordan, Turkey have open diplomatic relationship with Israel. Saudis have clandestine relationship with Israel. Go figure.
Mr. Jahangir Chauhan: Those "defeated Hindu kings and rajas and maharajs" were your ancestors, who failed to defend their home land.
ET mods- such utter lies as this man is spouting creates hatred between communities. Please allow rebuttal to be posted.
@Jahangir Chauhan: Just because the Hurriyat leaders are lying about discriminatory treatment in floods - it does not mean it is true. Fewer people have died in floods in Ondia than Pakistan. If only Hindus were being saved in Muslim majority Kashmir valley and Muslims were left to die, there would have been a much greater casualty. The other lie is that Red Cross is not being allowed when on its own website, Red Cross claims credit for life saving work in Sri Nagar. It is shameful and shocking that such lies and politics are happening even at a time of crisis.
By the way, P akistani. Golf team was also rescued - does your golf team constitute of Hindus?
Time and again, I feel astonished at the priorities of media. PM Modi meeting PM Netanyahu becomes a burning topic for media in Pakistan. A journalist with a very sophisticated title (consulting Editor for Headlines Today) Rajdeep Sardesai trying to settle scores with a hot headed Modi supporter physically becomes a priority for media in India. While the ET is busy feeding fodder to conspiracy mills in Pakistan, PM Modi is quietly meeting CEOs in the US.
Keep doing your good job, journos! One day you will also start worrying what really went wrong the world.
@Striver: India has an agenda against Muslims? India has more Muslims than Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Syria, Iraq, Qatar, Turkey all put together. Also in India ALLL Muslims can worship freely including Ahmadis and no one calls them kafir. If you look around the world, maximum number of Muslims are being killed by fellow Muslims and maximum number of asylum requests also come from Muslim majority countries.
What India does need to learn from Israel is drip irrigation because India is a water stressed country and has a large population to feed. Secondly, it needs to learn how to deal with jihadis being sent by neoghboring states in order to protect its citizens.
@Timorlane Timorlane also massacred millions of muslims. Timorlane was an Uzbek who ethnically cleanesed millions of Iranians, Pashtuns and other non-Turkic peoples.
@Indian: why don't you talk about and take care of Kashmiris.Left them alone in difficult crisis of floods. and only saved Hindus and left Muslims so they will die there in difficult cricumstances.what a shame.
@2019 ake bad: They were not butchers you can at max says to them expansionist but they were true warrior kings and sultans of their time who openly defeated Hindu kings and rajas and maharajs in open battlefield. Respect the brave.
@Timorlane: not in thousand but in lakhs.Epicenter of evil Israel is shaking hand with regional evil south Asia, Good photo op.
@vish: LOL. Which Indian Muslims you are talking about? Just couple of days ago you killed so many your own Indian Muslims in Gujrat. Indian Muslims accepted your Hindu India over Muslim Pakistan but never accepted them as your own. You just put restriction on them and kill them. Be honest.
@Striver: "India needs to suck up the back side of the Israel lobby in USA. Without them the changes of a UNSC seat are slim."
As Pakistanis suck up on back side of Saudis? Mr. Striver, as you seem so experienced in such acts (USA, Saudis, North Korea, China....) How about a demonstration to all of your great skills?
@ Ashoka, "Timur massacred 17 million humans around the world - women and children included.." Perhaps you're better off by adding a line "without remorse" since Ashoka himself is guilty of doing it in Kalinga..The fact that he repented it doesn't absolve him of the crime.
@vish: , For that matter who cares for Indian comments?
@TimorLane, Timur massacred 17 million humans around the world - women and children included. Check it out for yourself.
Long Live Indo,-Israeili friendship!! - higher than the mountains and deeper than the oceans. NaMo and Netanyahu are rockstars!!
@Qamar:
If your concerns are legitimate can you ask your brothers in India or else where in the world to join the UMMA under your flag. you are most welcomed if you can do soooo.. but your nuts will go down, even if not in crores but millions of muslims in India do not prefer Pakistan over their beloved country..
well Qamar we will challenge you and your entire nation since every one know that Pakistan was created for Indian muslims so we are ready to take back your minorities who are not the subject for book of people, but can you ensure how can you influence your co-brothers to travel back to Land of Pure.... ha ha ha.....
Just do not became a laughing stock in the view of others....
@Shabnam: Only one word to say who cares your comment, not even ha ha ha.....
@Timorlane: Why don't you guys think about Balochistan before writing anything. Why Pakistan is killing innocent people there
Short-sighted strategy by India I think. If a half-decent genuine government comes into power in the Arab world, India's ties with Israel will not be viewed positively at all. There are 400 million arabs versus 8 million Israelis in middle east. India needs to think where its primary market likely to be. It is also not helping with the Muslims sentiments in and out of India, which are a 1.5+ billion. Of course, all of this is predicate upon the puppet governments quitting and genuine people's government coming into power, which is eventually inevitable - don't underestimate the anti-Israeli sentiments amongst the Arabs.
China has been playing this game much much more wisely and carefully increasing its influence both in Israel and, more so, in Arab countries. Another thing that India needs to learn from China.
@2019 ake bad: just like Indians and Israelis take pleasures by killings Indian muslims and Arab Muslims.
@Timorlane:
Funny you said that when pakistan has done exactly what they have accused israel of. They have displaced domestic population to create a nation of a religion which has nothing to do with this region.
@Timorlane:
Both elicit pleasure out of butchering innocent unarmed Muslim children, women and men in thousands. Then educate us as to who was responsible for the genocide of 3 million bengalis in 1971.
Amazing comments! Neither Prime Minister Modi nor the commentators here seem to care about the plight of the Palestinians who suffer each day at the hands of the Israeli occupation and periodic but consistent annihilation. An apartheid regime in Israel must be condemned by all freedom loving people around the globe (a vast majority of them do, except US, Britain and now India is making unfortunate overtures of friendship to boost arms trade) complete with strict trade and travel embargoes placed on it.
“We are very excited by the prospects of greater and greater ties with India. We think the sky’s the limit,” +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I think this is a sly aim at the relationship which is higher than the Himalayas......
" India, Israel PMs pledge stronger ties in rare meeting" +++++++++++++++++++++++++ I smell a CIA conspiracy to encircle Pakistan with Afghanistan, Iran,India, Israel and then tightening the noose.
Israel has world's best counter-terrorism infrastructure to deal with the rogue states. India ties with Israel are extremely crucial in the same context as both have hostile states in their neighbourhood and may require mutual assistance in the near future.
India needs to suck up the back side of the Israel lobby in USA. Without them the changes of a UNSC seat are slim. Further, it is looking to deepen cooperation in weapons technology. Both have an agenda against Muslims for their own reasons. Both have fascist mentality. Therefore, they will naturally bond together.
We are natural allies and we don't have any inhibiting factors . We are two of the best races in the world .
Muslim themselves are the biggest slaughterers of Muslim’s in the world today. Events of Muslim on Muslim slaughter in Algeria, Libya, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Balochistan, FATA, and Afghanistan demonstrate this clearly.
Musharraf is on record , as resd in Pakistani needpapers ,suggesting Pak to easeup relations with Israil. No cries were heard from within Pak.
@Timorlane
{Wink}By that yardstick, assuming your claim is not the lie it is, Pakistan’s participation in the butchery of Muslim Palestinians in 1970-71 and the genocidal butchery of Muslim Bangladeshi’s in 1971 should make for a natural bond with Israel and India. The current slaughter of Muslims in Balochistan and North Waziristan Agency by Pakistan’s Punjabi dominated Muslim Military should only strengthen that “natural bond”.{LOL}.
Ugh!
Only one word to describe the photograph - disgusting.
the quid pro quo for israel for letting india claim credit for israel's mars mission.
india and israel brought together by usa - the ACTUAL axis of evil.
@Timorlane, And Pakistanis take pleasure in praising butchers like Ghaznis and Ghouris.
@Timorlane: Such an intelligent comment, especially when your avatar is the namesake of a very peaceful saint belonging to the Religion of Peace (TM)
They have a natural bond. Both elicit pleasure out of butchering innocent unarmed Muslim children, women and men in thousands.