Israel is emerging as India’s strongest friend; Netanyahu invites PM Modi to his country

New Delhi: The friendship between Israel and India is constantly deepening. After Russia, Israel has now emerged as India’s strongest ally. The strong friendship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is continuously taking the relations between the two countries to new heights. Meanwhile, Netanyahu has invited PM Modi to visit Israel. Israel’s ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, confirmed this on Wednesday.

Netanyahu sends invitation to PM Modi
The Israeli ambassador said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited by Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Israel. He said that preparations are underway and the dates will be officially announced at the appropriate time. Israeli Ambassador Azar, in an interview with ANI on the sidelines of an event held in New Delhi on the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, said, “The invitation has been extended. We are in the process of preparations, and announcements regarding specific dates will be made at the appropriate time.”

India-Israel Relations at a New High
Azar described the future of India-Israel relations as very strong. He praised the strategic partnership between the two countries. Azar said that 2025 was a particularly productive year, with ministerial-level meetings between India and Israel and the signing of important agreements. These included a bilateral investment treaty, security agreements, as well as progress on finalizing a free trade agreement and a financial protocol. He said that counter-terrorism cooperation remains a key pillar of the relationship. He added that they are looking forward to further strengthening it in 2026.

India: The Safest Country for Jews
The Israeli Ambassador praised India’s civilizational tradition. Highlighting the country’s long tradition of pluralism and tolerance, Azar said that Jewish communities in India have historically lived without the persecution seen elsewhere. “India has a civilizational tradition of tolerance. Jews here have enjoyed their presence, and we deeply appreciate it. This is part of the great friendship between our two civilizations.” Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed on January 27 to commemorate the approximately six million Jews who were murdered under the Nazi regime during World War II, in what is considered an act of antisemitism. According to the United Nations, this date was chosen because January 27, 1945, marked the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau German Nazi concentration and extermination camp. Pahalgam Attack Similar to Terrorist Attack on Israel.

On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri compared the Pahalgam attack to the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel in October 2023, stating that India is all too familiar with such “senseless brutality” and has been a victim of cross-border terrorism. Misri said that India immediately empathizes with nations that face terrorism, and recalled the killing of nearly 1,200 Israeli citizens and the abduction of hundreds in the Hamas attack. He added that, unfortunately, India is also very familiar with such senseless brutality, as we ourselves have been victims of cross-border terrorism. We immediately empathize with those who go through similar tragedies.