Narendra Modi has arrived in Tel Aviv, becoming the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi being received by the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, on his arrival, at Ben Gurion Airport, in Tel Aviv, Israel on July 04, 2017.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Israel today for his three-day visit. He is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel, making it a historic trip. PM Modi met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and will meet with President Reuven Rivlin. The leaders are seeking to strengthen India-Israel relationship on a range of areas including defence and technology. Wide-ranging delegation-level talks have been planned between the two countries to enhance India-Israel ties in security, agriculture, water, energy and defence, among others. PM Modi and Prime Minister Netanyahu will also discuss measures to counter terrorism and increase cooperation in sharing of intelligence in this regard. Economic, cultural and people-to-people ties are also scheduled to be discussed and a number of agreements are expected to be signed between India and Israel. During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will address around 4,000 Indians settled in Israel and pay homage to Indian soldiers at the memorial in Haifa. The two prime ministers will also visit the Yad Vashem Memorial Museum to honour the memory of the victims of the holocaust that counts among the greatest tragedies in human history.
Mr Modi, who recently said India and the Jewish state share a "deep and centuries-old" connection, is expected to agree military and cyber security deals.
Observers note he will not travel to Ramallah or meet Palestinian leaders, as visiting dignitaries often do.
The visit is seen by some as a turning point on India's position on Israel.
Mr Modi called the visit "ground-breaking" as he was met at the airport by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They will have dinner this evening ahead of formal talks on Wednesday.
Here is what the focus will be on over the next three days:
Defence deals will be top of the agenda
For years, Israel and India have been working closely together on counter-terrorism and defence issues and India has been a regular customer of arms from the Jewish state.
Working to modernise its military to counter China and Pakistan, India is now Israel's biggest arms market, thought to be worth about $1bn (£770m) per year, according to Reuters news agency.
The co-operation ranges from a jointly built air defence system to India buying drones, radar, cyber security and communication systems.
Aside from defence deals, the two countries also want to expand co-operation in other areas, notably Israel helping India to improve agricultural productivity and food security.
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