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Prime Minister Narendra Modi late on Thursday night (IST) arrived in the German city Hamburg to attend the G20 Summit, after wrapping up his historic three-day visit to Israel.
He will attend the summit hosted by Germany on 7-8 July.
The theme of the summit this year is 'Shaping an Inter- connected World'.
On the sidelines of the summit, Modi is to participate in a meeting of leaders of the BRICS - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - grouping tomorrow. He is also set to hold bilateral meetings with some of the world leaders there.
PM Modi left Israel on Thursday evening from where he is heading to Germany to attend the G20 Summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a Technology Exhibition in Tel Aviv with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and PM Netanyahu visit the Dor beach in Haifa in Israel on 6 July. PM Modi and PM Netanyahu attended a demonstration of a mobile seawater desalination unit and the meeting was shown live on Facebook on the PM of Israel’s page.
PM Modi drank desalinated sea water.
PM Narendra Modi went to Haifa along with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to pay homage to the deceased Indian soldiers who fought for World World I. PM Narendra Modi lay a wreath at cemetery for Indian Soldiers.
People of Indian origin in Israel will get the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card even if they have undergone the compulsory army service, PM Modi announced in Israel.
Addressing the Indian diaspora at the event which was also attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Modi said that direct flights would be launched between Delhi, Mumbai and Tel Aviv to encourage people-to-people contacts.
He said an Indian cultural centre would also be opened in Israel, fulfilling a long-pending demand of the Indian diaspora.
While addressing the Indian diaspora, PM Modi outlined India’s progress in the field of agriculture.
While speaking of India’s progress, the Indian prime minister said that Israel’s support to India in the realm of agriculture, defence and technology would greatly benefit the former.
Hailing Israel, particularly its innovations and scientific advancements, he said the country has demonstrated that the number and size does not matter, but it is the spirit that matters.
Modi said there were about 600 Indian students in Israel who can contribute to the future of the relationship.
Speaking on the role of women in India’s development, PM Modi said that though many countries have paid maternity leave for a period of 12 weeks, India has increased it to 26 weeks.
Speaking on the topic of the recently introduced Goods and Services Tax in India, PM Modi said:
He added that the move is aimed at achieving economic integration in India. Additionally, with the aim of 'housing for all', the government is now emphasising on construction and real estate, along with creating an ecosystem for entrepreneurs and innovators, the Indian prime minister added.
Invoking his ‘Make in India’ initiative, PM Modi said that now it has become a local brand in India.
Modi said the Jewish nation had links with India dating back to centuries, but the fact that no Indian prime minister had travelled here in 70 years "raises questions", an apparent swipe at the previous governments of India.
Describing Netanyahu as "my friend", Modi said the kind of welcome extended to him since his arrival in Israel cannot be forgotten by anyone.
In his 60-minute speech, Modi talked about various programmes initiated by the Indian government and said these were aimed at the betterment of the common people.
He said he and Modi had decided on a vast programme and the Indian diaspora was "a bridge". "We love you," he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with three Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardees from Israel.
This award was instituted by the government of India to honour those living abroad and have exceptional and meritorious contribution in their chosen field/profession to their credit.
Israel’s Opposition leader Isaac Herzog met with PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday, during his ongoing visit to Israel. He stressed on consensus to strengthen relationship between India and Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while hosting Indian PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday gifted him a photo depicting Indian soldiers leading a British military column to librate Jerusalem in 1917.
Foreign Secretary of India S Jaishankar said that India and Israel, two societies who consider themselves cradles of civilization, have now found a more contemporary basis for their relationship.
He added that there was a broad agreement that the fight against terrorism won't work if it's very segmented and translated into narrow agendas, reported ANI.
Moshe Holtzberg, the Israeli child who as a toddler survived the 2008 terror attack at a Jewish centre in Mumbai met with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.
Modi invited the 11-year-old survivor to visit India along with his family.
“Moshe is excited and emotional. We all are. We attach a lot of importance to the visit of Modi to Israel and his deciding to meet us,” Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg told PTI ahead of the meeting.
Eleven-year-old Moshe, survived the 2008 attack that claimed the lives of his parents, Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, the directors of the Chabad House.
Addressing the joint press conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that his Israeli counterpart and him have had productive discussions covering extensive issues. He added that they discussed the situation in West Asia and the wider region.
Both the countries regarded thriving two-way trade and investment flows as a “bed-rock” of strong partnership.
Modi also invited Netanyahu to visit India along with his family, an invitation which the Israeli PM accepted.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the joint-press conference after the delegation level meet between him and PM Modi said that the relationship between both the countries was akin to “marriage made in heaven”.
India and Israel signed seven agreements including MoU for water conservation in India, a plan of cooperation regarding cooperation in atomic clocks, and three-year agricultural programme.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi began the delegation-level talks by thanking his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu for hosting this “historic visit” and for playing a crucial role in writing an important chapter in the bilateral relationship between both countries.
Taking yesterday’s interaction forward, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu are meeting for restricted talks in Jerusalem, tweeted external affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Wednesday at Jerusalem. The two leaders briefed the press after their meet.
Speaking at the press meet, Rivlin said it was a "pleasure to have Modi in Israel". Responding to Rivlin’s comments, Modi said expressed his gratitude for the "warm welcome" extended to him by Israel.
Rivlin broke protocol to welcome Modi, by stepping on to the streets to receive the latter in person. Stating that he "felt at home" in Israel, Modi said,
After meeting with the President, Modi is scheduled to head for a restricted meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, where the two leaders are expected to discuss strategic agreements through a working lunch. The meeting will be followed by a press briefing.
Following this, Modi will meet Moshe, the 26/11 survivor, and the leader of the opposition. He will also meet the Indian community, later in the evening.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife hosted a private dinner for PM Modi at their residence Beit Aghion in Jerusalem on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Modi was at the Beit Aghion for three hours, as the entire Netanyahu family greeted and met him with utmost warmth.
Netanyahu gifted Prime Minister Modi a painting that depicts Indian soldiers leading a British military column accompanying General Allenby. Jerusalem dated 11 December 1917.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inspired him to pick up Yoga. “I have to confess that I have been inspired by Modi’s enthusiasm for Yoga,” Netanyahu said in a press statement.
Underlining that he wants to start practising Yoga, he said:
PM Modi said on Tuesday night (IST) that those who believe in humanity and civilised values must come together and defend it at all costs as he called for resolutely opposing the evils of terrorism, radicalism and violence that has plagued the world.
“Yad Vashem is a reminder of the unspeakable evil inflicted generations ago,” Modi said.
On his part, Netanyahu said the two countries must stand together to fight the menace of terrorism.
A new fast-growing Israeli flower was named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a special gesture to mark the first visit of an Indian premier to the Jewish nation.
“New fast-growing Israeli Chrysanthemum flower named in honor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will be called “MODI”. Indeed, a #GrowingPartnership!,” an official Israeli Twitter handle announced.
PM Narendra Modi visited Yad Vashem, the memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, in Israel after his short trip to Danziger Flower Farm.
Modi laid a wreath at the Yad Vashem Memorial museum and paid tributes to the over six million Jews who lost their lives under Adolf Hitler’s regime. He hailed the memorial as a tribute to the Jewish community and their "unbreakable spirit to rise above the depths of tragedy, overcome hatred and forge ahead to build a vibrant democratic nation."
Modi and Netanyahu also visited Mt Herzi in Jerusalem to pay tribute at the grave of father of modern Zionism, Theodre Herzi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "standalone" visit to Israel is a good way to concentrate on the bilateral achievement "without other issues affecting" them, Israeli envoy David Akov said.
The Israeli envoy made the remark in reply to a query on his country's stand on the possibility of the Indian premier visiting Ramallah. Modi is skipping a visit to Palestine during his trip.
"It's not for us to decide. This is clearly an issue for the Indian government to deal with. We believe that the standalone visit as this is called ... we think it is a very good way to visit Israel. This (visit) is a good way to concentrate on what we can achieve bilaterally, between the two countries without other issues (Palestine) affecting (them). The Consul General of Israel in Mumbai told reporters," the Consul General of Israel in Mumbai told reporters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Danziger ‘Dan’ flower farm in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva along with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel to learn about latest innovations and advancements in floriculture.
The Danziger flower farm is one of Israel's leading floriculture companies with approximately 80,000 square meters of state-of-the-art greenhouses specialising in reproduction of plants.
The farm, founded in 1953, is located in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, about 56 km from Jerusalem, in central Israel.
Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Prime Minister Modi and said, “Aapka swagat hai mere dost”.
“We love India, admire your culture, history, democracy and commitment to progress,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Israel for a three-day visit, during which he is expected to meet and discuss a number of common challenges with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli PM personally received PM Modi at the airport, along with a number of senior ministers.
Netanyahu called it a “historic visit” and welcomed his “friend” PM Modi with a “Shalom”.
Modi will be in Israel till 6 July before travelling to Hamburg in Germany to attend the G20 Summit.
Israel is eyeing the strong middle class base in India to boost its exports, capitalising on the the momentum generated by the “historic” visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but scepticism persists here due to stalled discussions on a Free Trade Agreement.
“The Indian economy is becoming a prime destination for Israeli exports, with its 1.3 billion consumers led by 300 million citizens in the middle and upper-middle class, with purchasing power equal to the middle class of Western economies,” Cohen noted.
An FTA between the two nations has remained elusive despite negotiations having started around seven years ago. The first round of negotiations were held on May 26, 2010.
On a question regarding the long-pending pact, Israeli foreign ministry officials said India was "re-evaluating" it, but tried to downplay its significance, saying there are newer developments that will help realise the economic potential between the two countries.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a press briefing on the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel.
The press was briefed by Yuval Rotem, Director General of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mark Sofer, Deputy Director General of Asia & Pacific and Danny Carmon, Ambassador of Israel to India.
Asserting that both India and Israel suffer from the “evil” forces of terrorism, the Jewish nation has said it completely supports New Delhi in its fight against terror emanating from Pakistan and within the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will create history by becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to ever visit the Jewish state of Israel when he touches down at Tel Aviv on 4 July.
Modi, on his three-day visit to commemorate 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, will hold talks on key areas of cooperation with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a video released by his office, Netanyahu, while addressing a gathering recently, had said:
Netanyahu and Modi have already met twice on foreign soil on the sidelines of UN- related events and are said to be constantly in touch with each other over the phone.
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