India and Israel discuss anti-terror cooperation, ways to boost trade ties

NETANYAHU’S VISIT LIKELY IN NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS

- MPOST BUREAU

India and Israel on Tuesday explored ways to build a global approach of “zero tolerance” to combat terrorism and enhance cooperation in areas of trade, infrastructure and connectivity even as New Delhi hoped that the US-brokered Gaza peace plan will bring durable peace to the region.

The issues figured in talks between External Affairs minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar that came as the two sides are looking at the possibility of a visit to India by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the next couple of months.

It is learnt that the implementation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) came up for discussion in the context of boosting regional connectivity.

In his televised opening remarks at the meeting, Jaishankar said both India and Israel are facing the challenge of terrorism.