India Backs Gaza Peace Plan, PM Tells Israel Parl

New Delhi: Addressing the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem late on Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India felt the pain and shared the grief of the “barbaric attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023,” while also reiterating the need to resolve the Palestinian issue.

“India stands with Israel fully in this moment and beyond,” he said, describing both countries as “democracies shaped by history.”

The Israeli Parliament, represented by its Speaker, conferred the “Speaker of the Knesset Medal” on Modi following his address. The Knesset building was also illuminated in the colours of the Indian flag.

In his speech, delivered in English, Modi described India as the fastest-growing major economy in the world and Israel as a powerhouse of innovation and technology. He vowed to strengthen trade, investment flows and infrastructure development between the two nations. He highlighted the strong defence partnership, connectivity initiatives such as the I2U2 framework (comprising India, Israel, the US and the UAE), cross-border financial linkages, and cooperation in agriculture and water management to benefit millions of Indian farmers.

Modi said both countries aim to negotiate an ambitious Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and unlock the full potential of bilateral ties. The two Prime Ministers held informal discussions on Wednesday and were scheduled to hold delegation-level talks on Thursday, during which several agreements were expected to be signed to further strengthen defence and trade relations.

This is Modi’s second visit to Israel, the first having taken place in 2017, when he became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the country.

Becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Knesset, Modi said India supports the Gaza peace initiative endorsed by the UN Security Council and called for a “just and durable peace, including addressing the Palestinian issue.” He said India stands with Israel for “peace, dialogue and stability,” acknowledging that the path to peace is “never easy” and requires “wisdom, courage and humanity.”

“No cause can justify the murder of civilians, and no cause can justify terrorism,” he said, recalling the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, including Israeli citizens. He praised Israel’s zero tolerance towards terrorism and said terrorism “threatens peace, destabilises societies, blocks development and erodes trust.”

Despite political differences between the ruling party and the Opposition, all Knesset members gave a standing ovation to Modi’s address. Opposition leaders stated ahead of the speech that internal disagreements had “nothing to do” with Modi’s visit and that “both sides of the aisle” welcomed him.

Modi began his address by saying it was an honour to speak in the Knesset and to convey India’s message of “partnership and respect.” He said he had “always felt drawn” to Israel and spoke about the ancient civilisational legacies of both nations, as well as the teachings of Judaism and Hinduism that promote righteousness and right conduct.

He also advocated stronger people-to-people exchanges and invited more young Israelis to visit India. He noted that Israel is admired in India for its courage and resolve, and recalled the contributions of eminent Jewish individuals to Indian society over the decades.

Ahead of the speech, Modi was escorted to the Knesset by his Israeli counterpart, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu addressed the Knesset and referred to Modi as a “brother” and to India as a “gigantic power.” After his address, Modi interacted with several Members of Parliament.

Earlier in the day, Modi received a red-carpet welcome upon arrival in Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife, Sara Netanyahu, received him at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, reflecting the strong bilateral ties between the two countries.

“It’s a great honour to welcome you to Israel, Prime Minister Modi,” Netanyahu said, greeting him with a hug and handshake. Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the airport.

“I am extremely honoured to be received by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Mrs Netanyahu at the airport. I look forward to engaging in bilateral discussions and achieving fruitful outcomes that strengthen the India–Israel friendship,” Modi said.

Netanyahu said the two leaders share a “close personal relationship” and that the friendship between them reflects the strong ties between their countries. In a post on X, he wrote: “My wife Sara and I welcomed today our good friend, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, who has arrived for another historic visit to Israel.”

Following the arrival ceremony, the two leaders held a brief one-on-one meeting. “Had an excellent meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Expressed gratitude to him for the warm welcome earlier in the day. It is a delight to be back in Israel after nine years,” Modi posted on X. He added that they discussed a wide range of issues aimed at boosting bilateral ties, including technology, water management, agriculture and talent partnerships, as well as key regional developments.

In a statement, New Delhi said Modi arrived in Israel on a State Visit and was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the airport. It noted that he was warmly received by members of the Indian community and representatives of the Jewish Indian diaspora at his hotel, where cultural performances symbolised the enduring friendship between the two nations.

In his departure statement from New Delhi, Modi said he was undertaking the state visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Netanyahu. He noted that India and Israel share a robust and multifaceted strategic partnership that has grown significantly in recent years. He expressed his intention to further strengthen cooperation across science and technology, innovation, agriculture, water management, defence and security, trade and investment, and people-to-people ties.

He also said he would meet President Isaac Herzog and described addressing the Knesset as a tribute to the strong parliamentary and democratic ties between the two nations. Modi expressed confidence that the visit would consolidate the enduring bonds between India and Israel and advance their shared vision for a resilient, innovative and prosperous future.