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In epochal move, PM Modi embraces Israel as full partner

Terror-hit nations sign partnerships on agri, water, space and security

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugs with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they deliver joint statements during an exchange of co-operation agreements ceremony in Jerusalem July 5, 2017
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 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday firmed the relationship between India and Israel by stating that both nations will partner not just on bilateral issues but also on global ones.
 
With that statement, India officially ended decades of a concealed foreign policy approach to Israel, publicly accepting it as a nation with which it shares a joint future.   Both Modi and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “much more together” to combat growing radicalisation and terrorism while pitching for strong action against those financing and providing sanctuaries to terror groups. “This is a good day... You and I can change the world... Our relationship is made in heaven and we are doing the implementation part,” Netanyahu said with Modi standing by his side during a joint media appearance.

The Israeli prime minister, who is devoting full time to Modi during his three-day visit and joining him at all his engagements, said the two countries together “can make a big difference” to the world.  Modi described his visit as “productive” and “memorable”, saying “Our goal is to build a relationship that reflects our shared priorities and draws on enduring bonds between our peoples.” The two leaders also issued a seven-point joint statement covering areas like innovation, space technology, agriculture, and water conservation. The last two are of particular domestic importance to Modi in light of recent farmers’ protests in some states, and for which he has been facing flak from Opposition parties. 

While the release from Israel did not mention water and agriculture as strategic partnership, Netanyahu did mention in his speech that these sectors are of great importance to both countries.   India’s Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar  also said “We wanted to focus on water and agriculture as people do not see it in the right focus. This area is very important to us.”   However, both countries also made a point to mention terror in the statement, saying they would continue to collaborate on issues related to terrorism. The statement said that terrorism should be fought in all forms and manifestation. Both the government signed number of memorandum of understandings on technology transfer, tourism and student policy.
 
“India has suffered first-hand the violence and hatred spread by terror. So has Israel,” he said, adding the two leaders had “agreed to do much more together to protect our strategic interests and also cooperate to combat growing radicalization and terrorism, including in cyber space.” Netanyahu said the two countries need to cooperate in the field of counter-terrorism as he described 26/11 as a “horrible terrorist attack”.  Modi also met with Moshe Holtzberg, the Israeli baby, now 11, who narrowly escaped death in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack that took the lives of his parents at Nariman House, also known as Chabad House.

  “We are being challenged by terror, Moshe is an expression of our commitment (to fighting terror),” Netanyahu said.

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