New Delhi/Jerusalem: Signing seven agreements in the fields of space, science, agriculture and drinking water, visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday elevated India-Israeli ties to the “strategic partnership” level with a vow to do “much more together” to combat growing radicalisation and terrorism.
Mr Modi held extensive talks with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, after which they agreed “to do much more together to protect our (the two nations’) strategic interests and also cooperate to combat growing radicalisation and terrorism, including in cyberspace”.
The two also decided to elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership, foreign secretary S. Jaishankar said while briefing reporters in Israel. Cooperation on homeland security will be strengthened between the two countries, he added.
“India and Israel live in complex geographies. We are aware of strategic threats to regional peace and stability. We also discussed the situation in West Asia and the wider region. It is India’s hope that peace, dialogue and restraint will prevail," Mr Modi said.
It added: “Recognising its centrality for development, India and Israel agreed to establish a ‘Strategic Partnership in Water and Agriculture’. This will focus on water conservation, waste-water treatment and its reuse for agriculture, desalination, water utility reforms and the cleaning of the Ganga and other rivers using advanced water technologies. It will also include the reinforcement and expansion of the existing Centres of Excellence under the stewardship of the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs and the ministry of agriculture of India to promote commercially viable business models involving Farmer Producer Organisations; the provision of quality planting material; and the transfer of post-harvest technical know how and market linkages involving the private sector through PPP, B2B & other models. The two leaders agreed on the establishment of a working group to steer partnership.” India and Israel also agreed to set up a $40 million fund for research and development, and innovation fund, with both countries contributing $20 million each.
