Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has once again postponed his long-awaited visit to India, even as his office dismissed speculation that the delay was caused by security concerns following the recent terror attack near Red Fort in New Delhi.
Clarifying the situation, Netanyahu’s office said in a social media post that, "Israel's bond with India, and between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very strong.” It added, "The PM has full confidence in India's security under PM Modi, and teams are already coordinating a new visit date."
Earlier, sections of the Israeli media had reported that the trip, scheduled for December, was cancelled due to safety fears after the deadly terror attack in the capital. i24NEWS had claimed, quoting sources, “Netanyahu, who last visited India in 2018 and was set to return for meetings with PM Modi, is now expected to seek a new date next year pending security assessments.”
This marks the third time in 2025 that Netanyahu has postponed his India visit, reinforcing a pattern where domestic political instability in Israel repeatedly disrupts his international travel plans.
Domestic unrest keeps forcing last-minute changes
Netanyahu’s plans to visit India have been repeatedly affected by political challenges at home. In both April and September this year, he called off scheduled visits due to mounting pressure from within Israel. Reasons cited included the threat of snap elections and growing unrest linked to the war in Gaza.
In April, mass protests broke out across Israel, with thousands demanding a ceasefire and calling on the government to secure the release of hostages. Demonstrators also protested against Netanyahu’s decision to sack the head of the Shin Bet security agency and attempts by his government to remove the attorney-general. These moves were widely seen as efforts to weaken key state institutions.
Netanyahu defended himself by claiming the ‘leftist deep state’ was targeting him and attempting to bring down his government.
At the same time, his coalition appeared on the verge of collapse, with disagreements over the Gaza campaign, judicial reforms and exemptions for ultra-Orthodox groups. Public opinion also shifted, with polls indicating declining trust in Netanyahu and a growing preference for opposition leaders such as Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid.
By September, his coalition weakened further after ultra-Orthodox parties United Torah Judaism and Shas walked out, reducing his numbers in the Knesset to around 50 seats. This followed a formal motion in June seeking to dissolve parliament.
While Gideon Sa’ar’s New Hope party later rejoined the government, restoring Netanyahu’s majority to 68 seats, the episode underscored the fragile political ground he continues to operate on.
A history of delays in India visits
This is not the first time Netanyahu’s India visit has faced repeated delays. His trip has technically been pending since 2019 due to internal political crises, the Covid-19 pandemic and the Gaza conflict. In 2019 alone, he postponed plans twice due to parliamentary elections in Israel.
He last visited India in 2018, during a six-day trip that became only the second visit by an Israeli Prime Minister to the country. That visit followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic trip to Israel in 2017 and was seen as a milestone in bilateral ties.
After the Red Fort terror attack earlier this month, Netanyahu expressed solidarity with India, saying, “To our dear friend Narendra Modi and to the brave people of India: Sara and I, and the people of Israel, send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Israel stands strong with you in sorrow and in strength in this time.”
Strong ties continue despite setbacks
Even as Netanyahu’s visit remains uncertain, engagement between the two countries continues. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal recently met Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, where trade and investment were discussed as negotiations for a free trade agreement gained momentum.
Netanyahu later wrote, “Israel and India are strengthening our strategic partnership, more investments, more innovation, and a strong economic corridor from India through Israel to Europe. Together we are building economic power”.
Still, political instability within Israel remains the main reason his India visit keeps getting pushed back. While officials now say a new date is being coordinated, Netanyahu’s repeated postponements highlight how domestic pressures continue to shape his foreign travel and diplomatic calendar.
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