Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached Israel on a two-day visit. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara gave him a grand welcome at the airport. Netanyahu broke protocol and hugged his ‘friend Modi’. PM Modi was also given a guard of honour. This is his second visit to Israel after 9 years. Regarding the grand welcome of the Israeli PM, the Prime Minister posted on X and wrote, I feel honored by the welcome given by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the airport. I hope that bilateral discussions will yield better results to strengthen the friendship between India and Israel.

PM Modi posted on X

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X and wrote, ‘Arrived in Israel… I am extremely honored to be welcomed by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Mrs. Netanyahu at the airport / I look forward to bilateral discussions and fruitful results that strengthen India-Israel friendship.’

Landed in Israel.

I am extremely honored to be received by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Mrs. Netanyahu at the airport. I look forward to engaging in bilateral discussions and fruitful outcomes that strengthen the India-Israel friendship.@netanyahu pic.twitter.com/FYGDv0M3Xy

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 25, 2026

Netanyahu responded to PM Modi’s post

Responding to PM Modi’s post, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Prime Minister Modi, it is a great honor to welcome you to Israel. You are welcome…”

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu responds to PM Narendra Modi’s tweet, “It’s a great honor to welcome you to Israel, Prime Minister Modi. Welcome…” pic.twitter.com/xqVp64fvOv

— ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2026

The Prime Minister left for Israel on Wednesday (25 February) morning and reached Tel Aviv at around 4.30 am. Where he was warmly welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Second visit to Israel after 9 years

This is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second visit to Israel after 9 years. Earlier he had gone to Israel in July 2017. The delegation meeting is to be held on 26th February. Apart from this, Prime Minister Modi will also meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The timing of PM Modi’s visit to Israel is also very important, it is happening at a time when tension is increasing in the Middle East. Whereas even after the war has stopped, sporadic clashes continue in Gaza.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go to Israel on his two-day visit. His visit will take place between 25 and 26 February. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu himself will arrive at the airport to receive him. During this, Indian Prime Minister Modi will address the Israeli Parliament on 25 February. Benjamin Netanyahu will also organize a private dinner in his honor.

Apart from this, there will also be bilateral talks between the two leaders. This will be Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second visit to Israel in the last 9 years. During PM Modi’s visit to Israel from 4 to 6 July 2017, the bilateral relations i.e. strategic partnership between the two countries was upgraded. India and Israel have a strong strategic partnership in areas like science and technology, innovation, defense and security, trade and investment, agriculture, water management and people to people connect.

Benjamin Netanyahu visited India in 2018

Earlier, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu had visited India between 14 and 19 January 2018. On January 11, 2023, Prime Minister Modi called and congratulated Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on his election as Prime Minister for the sixth time. On August 24, 2023, Prime Minister Netanyahu had called Prime Minister Modi to congratulate him on the successful lunar landing of Chandrayaan-3. On October 10, 2023, Prime Minister Netanyahu called Prime Minister Modi to inform him about the situation in Israel after the October 7 terrorist attack.

On June 6, 2024, Prime Minister Netanyahu congratulated Prime Minister Modi on being elected Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive time and then wished him on India’s Independence Day in August. Expressing condolences on the Pahalgam terrorist attack on 22 April 2025, Prime Minister Netanyahu called Prime Minister Modi on 24 April 2025. After the Israel-Iran conflict started on June 13, 2025, there were two talks between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister Modi.

On October 9, 2025, Prime Minister Modi congratulated Prime Minister Netanyahu on the progress made under President Trump’s Gaza peace plan. On December 10, 2025, talks were held between the two Prime Ministers on the regional situation. On January 7, 2026, both the Prime Ministers exchanged New Year greetings and discussed the regional situation.

Ministerial level talks between the two countries

In the year 2025, there will be ministerial level visits from Israel to India, in which Agriculture Minister, Tourism Minister, Trade and Economy Minister, Finance Minister and Foreign Minister had arrived. Ministerial level visits from India to Israel in the year 2025. Among them, Commerce and Industry Minister, Foreign Minister, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Minister went on the tour.

Both countries in the field of science and technology and innovation

Major areas of cooperation between the two countries include startups, joint R&D projects, India-Israel Industrial Innovation Fund (I4F), joint research programmes, artificial intelligence and cyber security.

Defense and security cooperation

• Defense cooperation is an important pillar of the India-Israel partnership. A ‘Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation’ was signed between the two countries during the visit of the Defense Secretary of India to Israel in November 2025.

trade and economic relations

• The Terms of Reference (ToR) for initiating Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between India and Israel were signed during the visit of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in November 2025.
• The Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) was signed during the visit of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to India in September 2025, which will promote economic cooperation, investor protection and cross-border investment.

Agriculture and Water Technology

• Long term cooperation in agriculture sector. Of the 43 Centers of Excellence (CoE) sanctioned in different states of India, 35 are fully operational, promoting modern farming, irrigation and water technologies.
• An amended agreement on cooperation in the agricultural sector and the Sixth Triennial Joint Action Plan (2024–26) were signed during the visit of the Israeli Agriculture Minister to India in April 2025.

People to People Connect

• More than 41,000 Indian expatriates live in Israel. A bilateral framework agreement was signed between India and Israel in November 2023 to facilitate temporary, secure and legal employment for Indian workers. After this, 20,000 Indians have reached Israel so far.

Regional/Multilateral Relations

• India welcomed the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict announced by President Donald Trump on 13 October 2025. India supports efforts for a just and lasting peace in the region.
• India and Israel are members of the I2U2 group (India, Israel, UAE, US), a cooperation platform focused on food security, renewable energy, trade and infrastructure projects.

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