Why Israels courting Indias Prime Minister Modi

Only a select few world leaders receive Israel’s grand reception at Ben Gurion International Airport: people like the President of the United States, and the Pope. So it did not go unnoticed that India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the same red carpet treatment.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet were on the tarmac to greet Modi as he exited his Air India Boeing 747 in Tel Aviv.

Modi returned the gesture in trademark style.

“Netanyahu received Prime Minister Modi’s hugging diplomacy,” says Eliaz Dandeker, a historian and researcher of the Jewish-Indian community. “It was warm, like a couple of old friends that came together after so many years.”

The two countries aim to further that embrace in terms of economic, cultural and security ties. The trip marks the first visit to Israel by an Indian Prime Minister after 25 years of diplomatic relations. Many analysts see the visit as a clear diplomatic tilt toward Israel after years of India keeping its distance.

“Since 1992 there has been a growing relationship between Israel and India but it was under Prime Minister Modi that the relationship has really blossomed,” Ambassador Dore Gold, former director general of Israel’s Foreign Ministry told CNN.

The three-day trip covers the breadth of Israeli industry from agricultural and water management to tech startups and commerce.

Netanyahu has ushered his Indian guest to meetings with business leaders and students from the two countries, and established an India-Israel CEO forum to create a hub for trade and commerce.

Seven major agreements have been signed, dealing with water, agriculture and space technology. The two countries have also created a $40 million dollar research and development fund for joint innovation.

“Israel is among the leading nations in the fields of innovation, water, and agriculture technologies – these are also among the priority areas in India’s development,” Modi told reporters, as he stood next to Netanyahu.

“We are making history together,” Netanyahu said. “I have a feeling that India and Israel are changing our world.”