Expressing strong admiration for New Delhi’s rise on the world stage, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Tuesday hailed India as “the world’s largest democracy and a global superpower".
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Sa’ar in New Delhi to discuss bilateral cooperation, regional security, and future strategic partnerships.
Sa’ar emphasised that Israel highly values its friendship with India. “We remember that Prime Minister Modi was the first world leader to call Prime Minister Netanyahu after Hamas’ October 7th massacre. We won’t forget it," Sa’ar said.
India and Israel on Tuesday explored ways to build a global approach of "zero tolerance" to combat terrorism and enhance cooperation in areas of trade, infrastructure and connectivity even as New Delhi hoped that the US-brokered Gaza peace plan will bring durable peace to the region.
The two sides are looking at the possibility of a visit to India by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the next couple of months, according to PTI.
It is learnt that the implementation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) came up for discussion in the context of boosting regional connectivity.
In his televised opening remarks at the meeting, Jaishankar said both India and Israel are facing the challenge of terrorism.
"We have stood together in testing times. And we have created a relationship with a high degree of trust and of reliability. Our two nations face a particular challenge from terrorism," he said.
Sa'ar, on a three-day trip to India, said Israel is confronting the "radical terror states" of Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthis in Yemen.
"The eradication of Hamas' terrorist state is at the heart of President (Donald) Trump's plan. Hamas must be disarmed, Gaza must be demilitarised.We will not compromise on it," he said.
Sa'ar also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's support to Israel.
"We remember he was the first world leader to call Prime Minister Netanyahu after Hamas' October 7 massacre and we won't forget it," he said.
In his remarks, Jaishankar, referring to the Gaza peace plan, said India has been following the developments with "very close attention".
The 20-point Gaza peace plan facilitated a ceasefire in the Strip. As part of the first phase of implementation of the plan, Hamas released all the remaining hostages while Israel freed nearly hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
The two foreign ministers also deliberated on ways to expand bilateral trade.
"Indian workers are also today present in Israel in growing numbers as a result of our mobility understanding. They have some issues which need attention and I hope that we can take that dimension of our ties forward," he said.
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