By Pradip Jain
Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his two-day visit to Israel on February 25 to further cement the friendship between New Delhi and Jerusalem that has grown steadily since the establishment of full diplomatic relations in 1992.
India–Israel and Israel-India joint issue stamp issued in 2012 on the theme “Festival of Lights”, featuring Deepavali (Diwali) from India and Hanukkah from Israel.
Even prior to formal ties, the two nations maintained discreet cooperation, particularly in agriculture and defense. Over the past three decades, this relationship has evolved into a dynamic and multifaceted partnership rooted in shared democratic values, mutual strategic interests, and a common commitment to innovation and progress.
A decisive phase in this partnership began in 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office and initiated a more open, confident, and forward-looking engagement with Israel. His approach underscored Israel’s importance as a key partner in defense cooperation, advanced technology, agricultural modernization, and water management. The relationship began to receive unprecedented political visibility and strategic focus.
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A historic milestone was achieved in July 2017, when Prime Minister Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to undertake an official visit to Israel. The visit marked a transformative moment in bilateral relations and was widely regarded as the beginning of a new chapter in India–Israel ties.
The partnership was elevated to a strategic level, with enhanced collaboration in defense, agriculture, water conservation, space research, science and technology, and innovation. The warmth and personal rapport between Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reflected not only diplomatic goodwill but also the depth of mutual trust and respect between the two nations.
Since then, cooperation has expanded into emerging and cutting-edge sectors such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, renewable energy, and quantum technologies. The India–Israel relationship today stands as a robust and future-oriented partnership built on innovation, resilience, and shared aspirations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking his second official visit to Israel on 25–26 February 2026, nearly nine years after his landmark 2017 visit. During this forthcoming visit, he is expected to address the Israeli Parliament (Knesset), further underscoring the strengthening political, strategic, and diplomatic engagement between the two countries. The visit is anticipated to consolidate ongoing collaborations and explore new avenues of partnership in technology, defense, trade, and innovation.
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Philatelist and author Pradip Jain (third from left) was part of the Indian team that travelled to Israel in 2018 to participate in the World Stamp Exhibition held from May 27-31.
(All photos courtesy of the author)
