Jaishankar Arrives in Israel to Strengthen Ties Ahead of Netanyahu’s India Visit

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in Israel on Tuesday for a two-day visit focused on enhancing bilateral and regional cooperation between India and Israel. During his stay, he is scheduled to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to discuss key strategic and economic issues.

A source stated that the discussions will center on deepening the strategic partnership, particularly in areas of defence, technology, trade, and regional security. The visit also sets the stage for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s proposed trip to India, announced following a recent phone conversation between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Jaishankar traveled to Tel Aviv from Abu Dhabi, where he participated in the Sir Bani Yas Forum, the 16th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting, and the 5th round of the India-UAE Strategic Dialogue on December 15. His visit underscores India’s commitment to strengthening ties across the Middle East.

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Last month, during Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s visit to Israel, the two countries signed the Terms of Reference (TOR) for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA). They also finalized a landmark defence and technological cooperation pact aimed at facilitating co-development, co-production, and sharing of advanced technology.

Earlier this year, multiple Israeli ministers, including those for tourism, economy, agriculture, and finance, visited India as momentum built toward the FTA. In September, India and Israel signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), further expanding trade and investment cooperation between the two nations.

Cultural and academic exchanges have also intensified, with film festivals, dance performances, and filmmaker exchanges strengthening people-to-people ties. On Monday, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Tel Aviv University signed an MoU to establish an India Chair at the university, promoting deeper academic collaboration between the countries.

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