Netanyahu says Modi to visit Israel Wednesday, address parliament

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Wednesday for an official visit that will include an address to the Knesset, the country's parliament. The announcement was made during a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, signaling a significant step in bilateral relations between the two nations.

Vision for a Regional Alliance

During the meeting, Netanyahu outlined a broader strategic vision, stating that Israel aims to "create an entire system — essentially a kind of hexagon of alliances — around or within the Middle East." He listed India, Greece, and the Greek Cypriot Administration as key partners in this proposed framework, alongside unnamed Arab, African, and Asian countries. The goal, according to the Israeli premier, is to build an axis of nations that share a common perspective on regional challenges and goals, in contrast to what he termed the "radical Shiite axis" and the "emerging radical Sunni axis."

Deepening Bilateral Cooperation

Netanyahu emphasized that Modi's visit is intended to deepen bilateral relations and expand cooperation across economic, political, and security fields. He specifically highlighted plans to strengthen collaboration in high-tech industries, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. The visit marks Modi's first trip to Israel since 2017, and follows Netanyahu's own visit to New Delhi the following year. As of Sunday evening, there was no official confirmation from Indian authorities regarding the prime minister's travel plans.