Divided Israeli parties unite to welcome PM Modi

NEW DELHI: PM Modi's visit to Israel rendered a rare moment of bipartisanship in its bitterly fractious and fragmented polity as its leader of opposition Yair Lapid called him a true friend of his country, while PM Netanyahu along with his wife Sara received Modi at the airport, a special gesture that signified their chemistry as well as the bonds between the two countries.

Under Modi - the only Indian PM to have visited Israel - ties have strengthened significantly, aided in part by his close equation with Netanyahu and growing cooperation in defence, technology, agriculture and innovation. "It's a great honour to welcome you to Israel, PM Modi," Netanyahu said, adding that the partnership between the two democracies continued to deepen. He also lightened the moment by pointing out that the saffron shade of Modi's pocket square matched Sara Netanyahu's dress, prompting laughter and signalling the comfort level between the leaders.


Reflecting the buzz around the visit, English daily The Jerusalem Post dedicated its front page to the trip, splashing the Hindi greeting "Namaste" alongside the Hebrew "Shalom" to highlight the warmth in ties. Lapid posted in Hindi that all of Israel was eager to welcome Modi, describing the ties as "not merely strategic but a bond of deep friendship".

Later, Modi became the first recipient of the "Speaker of the Knesset Medal", the highest honour of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. Speaker Amir Ohana said the Knesset building was illuminated in the colours of the Indian flag in tribute, calling Modi the "defining statesman of our times". The significance of the moment was evident as he arrived in Parliament to chants of "Modi, Modi" and a standing ovation.

Modi stepped down from the podium to greet members across party lines, reciprocating the bipartisan welcome. The reception underscored the broad political consensus in Israel on strengthening ties with India, despite sharp internal divisions that briefly narrowed after the Oct 2023 Hamas attack before resurfacing in domestic politics.

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