Jerusalem: Expressing satisfaction over the achievements of 30 years of full diplomatic relations between India and Israel, Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said that the time has come for the two countries to give a new impetus to their ties in a number of areas to strengthen the strategic partnership. Needed Ahead of his three-day visit to India that began on Tuesday, Cohen said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel in 2017 and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to India in 2018 helped in taking bilateral ties to new heights of cooperation and understanding. Help has been received and friendship has deepened not only between the governments but also between the people.
He said, ‘We hope that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to India later this year will accelerate relations in the areas that I will discuss during my visit, as well as in other areas.’ Israel’s Parliament ‘Knesset’ Speaker Amir Ohana had visited India at the end of March, after which Economy Minister Nir Barkat visited India in April and now Israeli Foreign Minister is visiting India. These visits are being seen as preparations for Netanyahu’s much-anticipated visit to India later this year.
Cohen said, ‘We are certainly at a stage where we are re-accelerating the relationship between the two countries after some delay during the Covid pandemic. Last year we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations. We are very satisfied with the many achievements made during this period and now is the time to look ahead and strengthen the strategic ties between the countries. He said that the visit is an opportunity to promote economic and cultural issues. He also listed the inauguration of the Jewish Road in Mumbai on the agenda of his visit. Important Jewish monuments in Mumbai have been identified under the Jewish Path and will be opened for tourists from all over the world.
The Israeli Foreign Minister said that during his visit, agreements could be signed in the field of water technologies and also agreements on centers of excellence that Israel operates with the Indian authorities. “There is enormous potential for growth in innovation between Israel and India,” he said, adding that “there is also great potential for collaboration on clean technologies and renewable energy, both bilaterally and in multilateral fora such as I2U2.” Israel has played an important role in India’s agriculture sector by opening a Center of Excellence and appointed a special ‘Water Attache’ to its mission in Delhi in the past.
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