New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel provided a rare moment of bipartisanship in its deeply fractious and divided regime, with opposition leader Yair Lapid calling him a true friend of the country, while Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife Sara greeted Modi at the airport, a special gesture that showed their chemistry and the bond between the two countries.Modi is the only Indian prime minister to have visited Israel, and relations have strengthened significantly under Modi, helped in part by his close relationship with Netanyahu and growing cooperation in defence, technology, agriculture and innovation. “Prime Minister Modi, it is a great honor to welcome you to Israel,” Netanyahu said, adding that the partnership between the two democracies continued to deepen. He also noted that the saffron color of Modi’s pocket square matched Sara Netanyahu’s dress, sparking laughter and indicating a level of comfort between the two leaders that lightened the moment.The English-language daily Jerusalem Post dedicated its front page to the visit, reflecting the lively atmosphere of the visit, adding the Hindi greeting “Namaste” next to the Hebrew “Shalom” to highlight the warmth in the relationship. Posting in Hindi, Lapid said all of Israel had eagerly welcomed Modi and described the relationship as “not just a strategic relationship, but a bond of deep friendship.”Subsequently, Modi became the first recipient of the Knesset Speaker’s Medal, the Knesset’s highest honor. Speaker Amir Ohana said the Knesset building was lit up in the colors of the Indian flag as a tribute and called Modi “a statesman of our time”. The significance of the moment was evident amid chants of “Modi, Modi” and a standing ovation when he arrived in Parliament.Modi walked off the podium and greeted members across party lines, echoing the bipartisan welcome. The reception underscored Israel’s broad political consensus on strengthening ties with India, even as internal divisions briefly narrowed after the Hamas attacks in October 2023 and then resurfaced in domestic politics.
