Israel attaches huge importance to Modi’s visit: Carmon -Governance Now

Israel attaches huge importance to Modi’s visit: Carmon

Modi to be first Indian prime minister to visit Israel

Shankar Kumar | June 22, 2017 | New Delhi

#Daniel Carmon #Make in India #defence production #Tel Aviv #Jerusalem #Israel #Narendra Modi #Palestine #Reuven Rivlin

Photo: Arun Kumar/Governance Now

Prime minister Narendra Modi’s July 5-6 visit to Israel will be of “huge importance”, stressed Israeli ambassador Daniel Carmon who added that his country is ready to offer New Delhi whatever it requires for joint defence production under the Make in India initiative.

“We can’t explain in words how much important would be Modi’s visit. We attach huge importance to it,” Carmon said at an interaction organised by Ananta Aspen Centre here on Wednesday. Departing from the past trend when Israeli authorities welcomed foreign dignitaries in Tel Aviv, Modi would be welcomed in Jerusalem, Israel’s new capital that several countries, including Palestine, have not yet recognized.

The Israeli diplomat, however, refused to answer a question about his country’s stand on India’s narrative that Pakistan is an epicentre of terrorism in the region. But he admitted that after signing a pact on homeland security in February 2014, “there has been increased cooperation between the two countries on the security front”.

Read an interview with the envoy: India, Israel can create “more magic”

On defence cooperation and the possible signing of agreement for the purchase of defence equipment, Carmon said that Israel, which is the third largest source of defence equipment to India, “is ready to offer New Delhi whatever it requires (for joint production) under make in India initiative”. He also said that Israel and India are currently engaged in several defence related projects.

In the last week of February, the Modi government had cleared the acquisition of a million dollar worth of medium range surface to air defence missile (MR-SAM), jointly developed by India’s Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israeli aircraft industry.

When Israeli president Reuven Rivlin visited India last year, the two countries signed agreement for the purchase of two more Phalcon Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AWACS). India has already acquired three Phalcon AWACS from Israel and they are mounted on Russian built IL-76 aircraft. India had also signed the deal for 10 Heron TP unmanned air vehicles.

According to MEA sources, the two sides are expected to clinch a deal for the purchase of radar-equipped aerostats, which are essentially balloon mounted, for low-level air and sea surveillance during Modi’s visit. Under ‘Make in India’ initiative, Israel is interested to develop Barak ship-busting missiles, Heron TP unmanned air vehicles, advanced equipment-detection radars and some aircraft-fired missiles

The two countries may also sign MoUs on space, cyber security, agriculture, education, water management and tourism during Modi’s visit.

The Israeli ambassador, however, didn’t shed light on whether Modi would address Knesset during his forthcoming visit.

There is also a buzz in South Block about the possible signing of a long-pending Free Trade Agreement between the two nations during Modi’s two-day visit.

Comments

Other News

BJP set to capture West Bengal

The political map of the country is set to be redrawn with the BJP set to win the West Bengal assembly elections, apart from Assam and the union territory of Puducherry. In Kerala, meanwhile, the Congress-led UDF is set to regain power. The filmstar Vijay-led TVK has emerged as the front-runner in Tamil Na

Beyond LPG: Is PNG ready for India’s next cooking fuel transition?

India, the second-largest importer and consumer of LPG after China, faces growing pressure due to supply constraints. Most of India`s LPG imports transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a focal point of global turmoil. Given that LPG forms the backbone of household kitchens and the restaurant industry, any s

Maharashtra adopts hybrid model for Census 2026 data collection

The government has initiated preparations for Census 2026 in Maharashtra, introducing a hybrid approach that combines optional self-enumeration with comprehensive door-to-door data collection to ensure complete coverage across the state. According to senior officials, the Self-

What the nine Indian Nobel winners have in common

A Touch Of Genius: The Wisdom of India’s Nobel Laureates Edited by Rudrangshu Mukherjee Aleph Books, Rs 1499, 848 pages

Income Tax dept holds Ghatkopar Outreach on new IT Act

The Income Tax Department organised an outreach programme in Ghatkopar, Mumbai, to raise awareness about the key features of the Income Tax Act, 2025, effective April 1, 2026. The initiative is part of a nationwide effort to promote taxpayer awareness, simplify compliance, and strengthen a transparent, eff

Making AI work where governance is closest to people

India’s next governance leap may not solely come from digitisation. It will come from making public systems more intelligent, more adaptive, and more responsive to the dynamics at the grassroots. That opportunity is especially significant at the panchayat level, where governance is not an abstract po