On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett upon meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the sidelines of COP26 in Glasgow, tweets on his Twitter page: “It was truly great to finally meet you, @NarendraModi.”
It was truly great to finally meet you, @NarendraModi.
🇮🇱 🇮🇳#COP26 pic.twitter.com/DmBEPHqx3a— Naftali Bennett ×‘× ×˜ (@naftalibennett) November 1, 2021
The Israeli Prime Minister’s media adviser, in a communication, stated that Prime Minister Bennett would be meeting with various global leaders, including Prime Minister Modi.
“On Monday, November 1, 2021, Prime Minister Bennett will address participants in the conference and present the Israeli concept on dealing with the climate crisis. The Prime Minister will also participate in the opening ceremony of the conference to be hosted by British Prime Minister Johnson and the reception to be hosted by British Crown Prince Charles,” it said.
The meeting between PM Modi and Prime Minister Bennett arrives after External Affairs Minister S.Jaishankar, during his trip to Israel last week, invited the Israeli premier on behalf of PM Modi to visit India. PM Modi’s invitation to Naftali Bennett made headlines in Israel as it was understood as an indication from New Delhi that it was comfortable working with the new government within the Jewish state.
According to local media reports in Israel, Prime Minister Bennett is expected to visit India next year.
Given the sensationalised “close chemistry” between former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and PM Modi, when questioned by a notable TV anchor as to how the difference in government would affect ties between the two nations, Mr Jaishankar, during his five day trip to Israel, said that the relations had evolved and reached such a “high level of comfort” that it “has gone beyond personalities”.
“I think we have as countries, as polities, as societies, reached a high level of comfort. So in a sense it is a proof of the success of everybody who has contributed to that change. That the relationship has gone beyond personalities in a way,” Mr Jaishankar told Channel 12.
However, he also acknowledged the essential role played by such actors (personalities) saying, “And we should be appreciative of personalities that make that happen”. India and Israel elevated bilateral relations to a strategic relationship during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Israel in July 2017.