The nation of Israel is known for salvation: Netanyahu in Mumbai

On Thursday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at Chabad House where he paid tribute to victims of 26/11. He also met terror attack survivor Moshe Holtzberg.

Moshe's father Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and mother Rivka were killed at the Nariman House during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The Jewish couple ran a cultural and outreach centre for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement at the Nariman House in south Mumbai's Colaba area.
 

The Chabad House is a unique blend of love and hatred towards the people of Israel, the country's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said today.

He was addressing people at the Chabad House, or the Nariman House, after meeting 11-year-old Moshe Holtzberg whose father Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and mother Rivka were killed along with six others there during the 26/11 terror attacks.

Moshe, then a toddler of two years, was miraculously saved by his Indian nanny Sandra Samuel, who now lives in Israel.

The Jewish couple ran a cultural outreach centre of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement at the five-storey building in south Mumbai's Colaba.

Moshe, who now lives in Israel with his grandparents, came to Mumbai on Tuesday, returning to the place where he was orphaned nine years ago.

"This place is a unique merge between love for Israeli people and the hatred towards the people of Israel. The nation of Israel is known for salvation," Netanyahu told the gathering in Hebrew.

The Israeli prime minister thanked Moshe for hosting him and showing him his room in the Chabad House.

"Your parents showed love to the people and welcomed all to this house. They provided for every Jew a home. This is loving Israel but terrorists showed hatred towards Israel," he said.
 

Netanyahu said the terrorists could not harm Moshe because of the love shown by his nanny.

"In the past, the Jewish people have witnessed a lot of challenges but with the help of God they overcame everything. The people of Israel are living and will live forever," he said.

Netanyahu, along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, laid wreath at the memorial of the terror attack victims, that claimed 166 lives, at the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in south Mumbai under a heavy security blanket.

The Israeli prime minister also wrote a message in the visitor's book at the place.


Moshe came to Mumbai on Tuesday, returning to the place where he was orphaned nine years ago in the terror attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday emphasised that partnership with India is doing wonders and said he has a strong bonding with his Indian counterpart.

#Mumbai: Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu meets 26/11 survivor Moshe Holtzberg at Nariman House. pic.twitter.com/PRjj2NZZlF

— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2018

#Mumbai: Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu meets 26/11 survivor Moshe Holtzberg at Nariman House. pic.twitter.com/HbpIwPNIzy

— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2018

Speaking at the India-Israel Business Summit in Mumbai, Netanyahu said, Israel is an innovation nation, India is an innovation nation. The two innovation nations must come together to define the future."

‘Our job is to encourage you to innovate. The partnership between India and Israel is doing wonders. I have a strong personal friendship with PM Modi,’ he added.

Talking about his visit to Gujarat, the Israeli Prime Minister mentioned about a 14-year-old boy, who made a landmines identifier drone.

"I also visited iCreate, an impressive hub where brilliant young minds come to solve problems. I was particularly impressed with a 14-year-old boy. This was slumdog millionaire. He produces drone which goes up the sky and identifies landmines, it'll save lives," Netanyahu said.

On the relationship between people of Israel and India, Netanyahu said, ‘It is on the level first of a deep personal friendship between Prime Minister Modi and myself. In addition, there is a partnership of genuine sympathy between our people. And that is not obvious. Our two civilisations are very old and we have not met each other in a real sense.’

The Israeli Prime Minister hailing India's competitive efforts recalled the 1983 cricket World Cup win.

"India also knows the value of competition and the glory of competition. How many of you know who won the 1983 World Cup’ If you were not in London then you must be on streets honking when India defeated West Indies. That is competition," he said.

Earlier today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met the top Indian CEOs and head honchos for a power breakfast in Mumbai.

While addressing the Indian CEO's in Mumbai at a business forum, Netanyahu said, "Future belongs to those who innovate. Our job is to encourage you to innovate. The partnership between India and Israel is doing wonders".

Netanyahu interacted with business leaders at the iconic Taj hotel overlooking the Arabia Sea. Business leaders who were present at the breakfast included Ajay Piramal, Rahul Bajaj, Adi Godrej, Harsh Goenka, Anand Mahindra, Dilip Shanghvi, Ashok Hinduja, Atul Punj and Chanda Kochhar.

The business forum was also attended by Israeli business persons.

Soon following that, Netanyahu's schedule is followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at Hotel Taj Mahal Palace opposite the Gateway of India and a visit to the Chabad House in Nariman House, in nearby Colaba - both in south Mumbai.

By evening, Netanyahu is reserved for a gala glamour-filled engagement with Bollywood personalities, his final engagement before returning home on Friday morning.

Netanyahu arrived in Mumbai earlier in the day from Ahmedabad. He was received at the airport by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and senior officials.