India and Israel seek to ramp up bilateral ties

India and Israel on Tuesday discussed their fight against terrorism, including the need for a zero tolerance approach towards the menace from the world community, and ways to ramp up cooperation in trade, infrastructure and regional connectivity through projects such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

- Rezaul H Laskar

The situation in Gaza and the US-brokered peace plan also figured in a meeting between Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar and external affairs minister S Jaishankar, who said India backs the peace process with the hope that it will lead to a "durable and lasting solution".

Sa'ar is on his first visit to India, becoming the fifth Israeli minister to travel to the country this year. The visits have prepared the grounds for a planned trip by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, people familiar with the matter said.

Jaishankar noted that both countries face the challenge of terrorism and said: "It is essential that we work towards ensuring a global approach of zero tolerance towards terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations." Sa'ar described "radical terror" as a threat to both sides and reiterated Israel's condemnation of the terror attack in Pahalgam in April.