Media Eye News Bureau: India and Israel extended their bilateral ties to a next level as both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his visiting Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu met for hours in the national capital, showing full display of bonhomie and personal chemistry.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a lunch for Netanyahu after bilateral talks, while a live rendition of Raj Kapoor movie “Shree 420” was played and the Israeli officials was seen enjoying very much.
Both countries signed nine agreements, including those on cyber-security, solar thermal energy, oil and gas sector and space, along with closed-doors discussions over defence sector.
Indian PM and his Israeli counterpart were found competing to laud each other as Netanyahu described Modi as a “revolutionary leader”.
“You (Modi) are a revolutionary leader. You are revolutionizing India and her relations with Israel…India-Israel relationship is a marriage made in heaven….Anytime you want to do a yoga class with me, it’s a big stretch, but I’ll be there,” Netanyahu said.
Israeli PM also thanked ‘Narendra’ for his exceptional display of friendship.
Modi took the opportunity to treat his counterpart at the highest degree as possible and calling him as “my friend Bibi”.
“I have a reputation of being impatient in getting results. It’s an open secret that so are you (Netanyahu)….we reviewed the progress in our relations. Our discussions were wide ranging and intensive. Marked by desire to do more,” Modi said.
The two global leaders stressed their bid to strengthen defence cooperation during bilateral talks while Modi invited Israeli defence companies to be a part of “Make in India” with Indian companies.
The two nations issued a joint statement at the end of bilateral talks, saying they “called on the Defence ministries to hold discussions in 2018 with active involvement of the public and private sectors, in order to create the basis for viable, sustainable and long term cooperation in the defence industry”.
