Netanyahu says he will advise PM Modi on dealing with Trump, but 'in private'

File Photo - Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu talk during the India-Israel Business Summit in New Delhi on January 15, 2018.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has extended an offer to assist India in dealing with the steep 50% tariffs imposed by the United States, saying he would give Prime Minister Narendra Modi “some advice” on managing US President Donald Trump, adding with a smile that the advice would be given “in private.”

Netanyahu, speaking to journalists on Thursday, stressed the importance of India and the US reaching a compromise on their ongoing trade dispute. “Modi and Trump are terrific friends of mine. Yes I would give Modi some advice (on dealing with Trump), but privately,” PTI quoted him as saying.

“There is a basic understanding in relationship between India and the US. The basis of the relationship is very solid. It will be in the interest of India and the US to arrive at a common ground and resolve the tariff issue. Such a resolution will be good for Israel as well as both the countries are our friends,” he added.

The Israeli leader also expressed his desire to visit India “soon” and reiterated Israel’s interest in launching direct flights between Tel Aviv and Bengaluru. He noted that such a route would cut travel time to just six hours -- shorter than a flight to San Francisco.

Praise for Operation Sindoor equipment

Turning to defence ties, Netanyahu said Israeli-supplied military equipment had proven its worth during India’s recent Operation Sindoor. “Israel supplied military equipment to India before (Op Sindoor). All of them worked well. Israeli equipment used during Operation Sindoor were battle proven,” he said.

On tackling cross-border terrorism, he offered to help India strengthen its surveillance systems. “India is huge country and it is not easy to have surveillance all over. We are ready to help India in air surveillance systems. Besides intelligence, we need the physical capability to get the terrorists before they strike,” he said.

“You always have to be ahead of the curve, you don’t allow them to break you, you have to act before what is likely to come and being hatched by them,” he added.

During the military conflict with Pakistan, India used Israeli-origin defence systems, including HARPY loitering munitions, SkyStriker drones, Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles, and Heron reconnaissance UAVs. These systems are said to have played key roles in precision strikes and air defence missions.

The HARPY drones, in particular, were widely used by India to intercept Pakistani missile systems and neutralise key infrastructure targets across the border. Developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the HARPY is a loitering munition specifically designed for the Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD), capable of autonomously locating and destroying radar-emitting targets.

The Barak-8 missile system, jointly developed by Israel and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), was another major component in India’s integrated air defence during the operation.