Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in West Jerusalem on the second day of a landmark three-day visit to Israel.
“Israel is a real friend to India. I feel absolutely at home here,” Modi was quoted as saying during the meeting.
“In the real world, what we see today is 'I for I' and 'I with I'. And when I say 'I for I', I don't mean the popular saying. What I mean is, 'India with Israel' and 'India for Israel’,” he added.
Rivlin, for his part, warmly welcomed Modi, calling him “one of the greatest leaders of a democracy in the world at this time”.
Addressing the Indian premier, he added: “We appreciate very much your visit to Israel.”
“It has only been eight months since I visited your country,” he continued. “I can never forget our visit because we found a really strong nation, with strong ideas and strong wishes.”
Modi arrived in Israel on Tuesday evening, making him the first-ever Indian prime minister to visit the self-proclaimed Jewish state.
Speaking at a welcoming ceremony, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised his Indian counterpart, saying: “We were waiting for this visit for many years.”
“This is a historical visit; the first by an Indian prime minister to Israel," Netanyahu added.
“We welcome you with open arms. We love India. We admire your culture, we admire your history, your democracy, your commitment to progress,” he asserted.
He went on to call for stepped-up cooperation between the two countries.
“We can do a lot together,” he said. “When it comes to Israel-India relations, the sky is the limit.”
Modi, for his part, declared: “It is a special honor for me to be the first Indian prime minister ever to visit Israel.”
He went on to say that he planned to discuss “several issues” with “my friend” Netanyahu.
“We are cooperating to protect our societies from threats such as terrorism,” he added. “My visit is the beginning of our partnership with Israel.”
Bilateral agreements
Seven agreements were signed on the second day of Modi's visit in the areas of information technology, space, water, agriculture, and industry.
A industrial research and development fund worth $40 million was agreed between the Indian Science and Technology Office and the Israeli Cooperation Agency.
According to Israeli state radio, Modi also invited Netanyahu to visit India.
Protests in Ramallah
Massing in front of India's Embassy in Ramallah, members of Palestinian groups in the West Bank protested Modi's visit.
The demonstrators invited all countries, particularly India, to cut off their relations with Israel and boycott the "occupation state" and protested the deals between India and Israel.
Speaking on behalf of the Palestinian groups, Isam Abu Bakir said that the long-standing ties between India and the Palestinian people are in danger as India "rewarded" Israel with agreements made during Modi's visit.
"The Palestinian people and resistance groups are anxiously following the development of Israeli-Indian relations. We have long-standing ties with India. During that time, India said that the Palestinian people should take their destiny in their own hands but now we see that there is a change in India's stance as it develops its relations with the occupation state," he said.
"Indian Prime Minister Modi said in his statement to an Israeli newspapers that he does not see harm in moving the Indian Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem," he added.
"We are calling on India to review this attitude," Abu Bakir said.
In recent years, Israel has been trying to develop economic, political and military ties with strong Asian countries such as India and China.
Israel places great importance on Modi's three-day visit.
During his visit, Modi is expected to meet with a host of other high-level Israeli political figures, including opposition leader Yitzhak Herzog.
