Israel calls for long-term strategic ties with India

VISITING FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS WON’T COMPROMISE ON HAMAS

- SHUBHAJIT ROY

AS DELHI REAFFIRMED its support for the Gaza peace plan while underlining that “our two nations face a particular challenge from terrorism’, visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Tuesday and said Israel and India are “building a long-term strategic partnership”.

Jaishankar responded saying, “India and Israel have a strategic partnership and, particularly in our case, that term has areal meaning.”

Besides counter-terrorism and security cooperation, the two ministers discussed enhanced cooperation in cyber-security and semiconductors, participation of Indian companies in rail, road and port infrastructure in Israel, renewable energy and health, Israeli innovation in agriculture in India, and more Indian skilled workers in Israel.

Sa’ar, who recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first world leader to call Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, said the “eradication ofthe Hamas terror state is at the heart of (US) President (Donald) Trump’s Plan” and “we won't compromise on it”.