JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, expressing solidarity with Israel and reaffirming India’s commitment to peace, stability and cooperation amid ongoing regional tensions.
In his address, delivered in English, Modi noted that he was born on September 7, 1950 — the same day India formally recognised Israel. Drawing parallels between the two nations, he said that like Israel, India has also been a victim of terrorism and supports all efforts that contribute to peace and regional stability.
The Prime Minister conveyed his condolences for the victims of the October 7 attack by Hamas. “I bring the deepest condolences from the people of India for every life lost in the barbaric terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7. We feel your pain, we share your grief. India stands with Israel firmly, with full conviction, in this moment and beyond,” he said.
Modi also highlighted the historical contribution of the Jewish community to India’s development across various sectors, including the role of Lieutenant General J.F.R. Jacob in India’s 1971 war with Pakistan.
Welcoming Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described him not only as “a dear friend” but as a “brother”. He said he was deeply moved by Modi’s visit to Jerusalem and called him a “great champion of the Indian–Israeli alliance”.
Netanyahu said that since Modi’s landmark visit to Israel in 2017 — the first by an Indian Prime Minister — bilateral ties have expanded significantly. “We have doubled our trade, tripled our cooperation and quadrupled our ties in ways I cannot fully describe,” he said. He also thanked India for its long-standing record of welcoming Jewish communities, noting that Jews were never persecuted in India.
Recalling their meeting at Ben Gurion Airport, Netanyahu said the “Modi hug” reflected the warmth between the two leaders. He described India as a gigantic power and Israel as gigantic in spirit, adding that the India–Israel alliance is “an enormous multiplier” of their individual strengths and capabilities.
As Modi entered the Knesset chamber, members chanted his name. Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana said the visit was historic, recalling that Modi was the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel in 2017 and is now the first to address the Knesset. He noted that the Knesset building was illuminated in the colours of the Indian national flag to mark the occasion.
The Prime Minister said trade negotiators from both sides are working on an “ambitious trade agreement” that would unlock the vast potential in bilateral trade. He also referred to cooperation in emerging frameworks such as the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor and the I2U2 grouping comprising India, Israel, the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
Calling defence and security ties an “important pillar” of the partnership, Modi said the two countries signed a defence cooperation agreement in November. “The India–Israel defence and security partnership is of vital importance in the current uncertain world,” he said.
India–Israel relations were elevated to the level of a strategic partnership during Modi’s 2017 visit, and both sides have since deepened engagement across trade, technology, security and innovation.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Israel on Wednesday to a red-carpet welcome, with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara receiving him at Ben Gurion Airport.
This is Modi’s second visit to Israel in nine years. The India–Israel relationship was elevated to a strategic partnership during his first visit in July 2017.
Netanyahu greeted the Indian prime minister with a warm hug, after which Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the airport, located about 20 kilometres southeast of Tel Aviv.
The prime minister is scheduled to address Israel’s parliament later and will hold a one-on-one meeting with Netanyahu. The two leaders are set to hold wide-ranging talks on Thursday.
In his pre-departure statement, Modi said he was confident that the visit would further consolidate the enduring bonds between India and Israel and set new goals for the strategic partnership.
“India and Israel share a robust and multifaceted strategic partnership that has witnessed remarkable growth and dynamism in recent years,” Modi said.
“I look forward to my discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu aimed at further strengthening our cooperation across various domains, including science and technology, innovation, agriculture, water management, defence and security, trade and investment, as well as people-to-people ties,” he added.