PM Modi said that both India and Israel have played an important role in each other’s development.
New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said there could be no better time to set new goals to take India-Israel ties forward and asserted that cooperation between the two countries has played an important role in the growth stories of both the countries.
In a special video message on the completion of 30 years of full diplomatic relations between India and Israel, PM Modi said that this period has been very important for both the countries.
He also said that the people of India and Israel have always had a special relationship.
PM Modi said, “This day holds significance in our relations as full diplomatic relations were established between the two countries 30 years ago. A new chapter had started between the two countries. It was a new chapter but the history between us.” centuries old.” ,
He said, “For centuries the Jewish community has lived and developed in a cordial environment in India without any discrimination. It has contributed significantly to our development journey.”
He said that at a time when significant changes are taking place in the world, the importance of India-Israel relations has increased.
There can be no better occasion to set new goals for mutual cooperation than now when India completes 75 years of its independence, next year Israel will complete 75 years of its independence and both countries will complete 30 years of their diplomatic relations. are doing, PM Modi said.
He said, “On this important milestone of 30 years, I congratulate everyone. I am confident that India-Israel friendship will continue to set new records of mutual cooperation in the coming decades.”
Although India recognized Israel on September 17, 1950, full diplomatic relations between the countries were established on January 29, 1992. Since then, bilateral relations between the two countries have evolved into a multi-faceted strategic partnership.
Earlier this week, Israel’s envoy to India Naor Gilone had said that the 30th anniversary of India-Israel diplomatic ties is a good opportunity to look ahead and shape the relationship for the next 30 years.
He expressed confidence that the close cooperation between the two countries in various fields would be further enhanced in the years to come.
India’s Ambassador to Israel Sanjeev Singla said, “We are proud to mark the 30th anniversary of our bilateral relations and look forward to using the special logo throughout the year to celebrate this special milestone.” Emphasizing that “friendship and trust” are not only positive traits but also “real assets”, the foreign ministers of India and Israel in a joint op-ed for an Israeli daily on Friday said that both The countries have worked together. Roots” delve together to find solutions to common challenges, including the security sector, over the past three decades.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid contributed a joint piece, “Deeping Roots”, to Israel Hayom on the completion of 30 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The 30th anniversary of India-Israel ties also came on a day when a New York Times report claimed that India bought Pegasus spyware in 2017 as part of a $2 billion defense deal with Israel, with the opposition in a big deal. Controversy ensued, alleging that the government was involved. Illegal espionage that amounted to “treason”.
The Congress and some other opposition parties indicated that they would vigorously raise the issue in Parliament’s budget session beginning Monday, even as Union Minister General (retd) VK Singh described The New York Times as “betel media”. ” said.
However, a government source said the Pegasus software-related matter is being monitored by a committee under the Supreme Court – headed by retired Supreme Court judge RV Raveendran – and its report is awaited.
At the same time, Syed Akbaruddin, India’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, dismissed the “objection” as “complete nonsense” in the NYT report, which included India’s 2019 support for Israel at the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The vote was cited as a sign of deepening ties after ties were overturned. A deal that involved the sale of Pegasus.
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