Netanyahu, Modi exchange praise at Knesset as Indian leader lauds Israel

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a hero's welcome at the Israeli Knesset on Thursday during his first visit to the country since 2017, delivering a speech filled with praise for Israel as some opposition lawmakers staged a walkout in protest. The two-day official visit to Tel Aviv featured warm exchanges between Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with both leaders highlighting deepening bilateral ties.

Modi's Knesset Address

As Modi prepared to speak, synchronized applause broke out in the parliament chamber with lawmakers chanting "Modi!" The Indian leader praised Israel warmly, declaring "Long live the people of Israel" to a standing ovation from the entire assembly. Modi expressed India's solidarity with Israeli suffering and affirmed that "India stands with Israel fully, now and in the future, with complete faith." He voiced support for the Abraham Accords and referenced the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) project, stating India is developing "a maritime and land corridor connecting India through the Arabian Peninsula to Haifa Port, and from there to the Mediterranean and Europe."

Netanyahu's Ottoman Reference

Netanyahu, in his own address, evoked World War I history, noting that when the region was under Ottoman rule, British forces—including "brave Indians who fought like lions"—helped liberate the territory. "When forces were repelled, who rushed forward? Indian commanders. They gave their lives for us," he said, using the historical reference to highlight longstanding Indian sacrifice for the land now comprising Israel. The comments implicitly criticized Ottoman governance while celebrating Indian contributions to the eventual British victory that reshaped the Middle East.

Protests and Parallels

A portion of opposition lawmakers left the chamber in protest before Modi's speech, though the majority remained to applaud the Indian leader. The warm reception recalled Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's recent Knesset address, where he famously praised Netanyahu as "one of the five best speakers in the world" and confessed to trembling at the prospect of speaking before him. Modi's visit underscores India's growing strategic partnership with Israel, balancing New Delhi's traditional ties with Arab nations and its expanding engagement in the Middle East.