Page 4 - Benjamin Netanyahu

'Splendid': PM Modi praises Netanyahu for wearing traditional Indian attire

Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was bestowed with the Medal of the Knesset, becoming the first recipient of the honour

'More than a friend': Netanyahu praises PM Modi, thanks him for support

Describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "more than a friend", his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday showered praises on the Indian leader and thanked him for standing by Israel's side after the dastardly attack of October 7, 2023. Modi was among the first world leaders to condemn the deadly attacks by Hamas in which almost 1,200 Israelis were killed and some 250 kidnapped. "Prime ministers and heads of state come to the Knesset and it's always an exciting moment for all of us. But my dear friend Narendra, I'm especially moved by your visit. You are a great friend of Israel and a great leader at the world stage....Narendra, you are more than a friend. You are a brother," an emotional Netanyahu said at the beginning of his speech. "We took off our shoes, and waded in the ocean. We didn't walk on water but have done miracles," Netanyahu said in reference to the viral picture of the two leaders walking barefoot in the ocean during Modi's first visit as prime ministe

PM Modi departs for Israel, to hold talks with Netanyahu, address Knesset

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday left for Israel for a two-day visit during which he will have discussions with his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, address the Israeli Parliament, Knesset, and interact with the Indian diaspora. In his departure statement, the prime minister said India and Israel share a robust and multifaceted strategic partnership that has witnessed remarkable growth and dynamism, and he is looking forward to his meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Modi said the visit comes at the invitation of his "dear friend Prime Minister Netanyahu." "I look forward to my discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu aimed at further strengthening our cooperation across various domains, including science and technology, innovation, agriculture, water management defence and security, trade and investment, as well as people-to-people ties," he said. Modi will address the Israeli Parliament, Knesset, becoming the first Indian prime minister to have the honour. During th

India, Israel to upgrade ties to special strategic level during PM's visit

India and Israel's relations will be upgraded to a "special strategic partnership" during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, marking a "significant leap ahead" similar to Jerusalem's ties with countries such as the US and Germany, sources said here Tuesday. Modi will undertake a two-day visit to Israel beginning Wednesday to shore up bilateral defence and trade cooperation. It will be Modi's second visit to Israel in nine years. The India-Israel relationship was elevated to the level of strategic partnership during Modi's first visit to that country in July 2017. The upgraded "special strategic partnership" agreement will allow for a further developed stage of ties that will lead to joint development of advanced defence systems and an understanding to stand by each other in times of need. "The two countries have been reliable partners over the years and it has been proven in hours of crises. This is only being formally recognised during PM Modi's visit", sources told PTI. Modi w

Netanyahu outlines PM Modi's itinerary ahead of 'historic' Israel visit

This will be PM Modi's second visit to the country, following his 2017 visit when he became the first-ever Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel

Israel awaits PM Narendra Modi: Of security, silicon and strategic signals

The PM's two-day Israel visit to feature Knesset address, and talks with Netanyahu on defence, counter-terrorism, IMEC, trade and artificial intelligence cooperation

Netanyahu calls India 'gigantic power' ahead of PM Modi's Israel visit

Describing India as a "gigantic power", Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel is "tightening alliances" with its allies, as he mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jerusalem next week. Prime Minister Modi is expected to arrive in Israel on February 25 on a two-day visit during which he is likely to address the Knesset (parliament) and meet Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. Netanyahu made the comments while addressing the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Cadets' Graduation Ceremony in Bahad 1 (IDF Officers School), about 190 kms south of Jerusalem, on Thursday. After describing valiant efforts by the Israeli army over the years, Netanyahu said how the country goes out and takes "pre-emptive measures" against the evil, and, therefore, will act time and again "to neutralise the risks in the area, as necessary." "We will also act to tighten alliances with our allies. Next week, the Prime Minister of India will visit the country a gigantic power," Netanyahu

India, Israel sign another MoU to deepen defence ties ahead of Modi's visit

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel later this month, an MoU was signed between India and Israel to deepen defence ties and strengthen ongoing joint activities, including future seminars and cooperative initiatives. The International Defence Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT) within Israel's Ministry of Defense (IMOD) have facilitated meetings between leading Indian and Israel defence industries leading to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). SIBAT in cooperation with the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) and India's Ministry of Defence led a seminar and B2B meetings this week between leading Indian and Israeli defence companies, the IMOD said. "The seminar was led by SIBAT Director, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Yair Kulas, and brought together small, medium and large Israeli and Indian defence companies for substantive engagements, with the goal of deepening familiarity with India's defense industrial ecosystem and its updated Defense Acquisition

Marco Rubio plans to visit Israel to brief Netanyahu on US-Iran talks

Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to travel to Israel next week to update Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the US-Iran nuclear talks, two Trump administration officials said. Rubio is expected to meet with Netanyahu on Feb. 28, according to the officials, who spoke Wednesday on condition of anonymity to detail travel plans that have not yet been announced. The U.S. and Iran recently have held two rounds of indirect talks over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. Officials from both sides publicly offered some muted optimism about progress this week, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi even saying that "a new window has opened" for reaching an agreement. "In some ways, it went well," US Vice President JD Vance said about the talks in an interview Tuesday with Fox News Channel. "But in other ways, it was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through." Netanyahu visited the

PM Narendra Modi to visit Israel next week, says Benjamin Netanyahu

'Tremendous alliance between Israel and India, and we are going to discuss all sorts of cooperation', the Israeli PM said

Netanyahu seeks to strip Israeli nationality of convicted Palestinians

Israel has asked a court to revoke the citizenship of two men convicted of terrorism offences, in what appears to be the first test of a law allowing the deportation of Palestinian citizens convicted of certain violent crimes. Court documents filed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday argued that the severity of the crimes, along with payments those found guilty allegedly received from a Palestinian Authority fund, justify revoking citizenship and expelling the individuals convicted of violent attacks. Roughly one in five Israeli citizens is Palestinian. When the law passed, critics said it was one instance in which Israel's legal system treats Jewish and Palestinian citizens differently. Rights groups argued that basing a deportation law on Palestinian Authority payments effectively limited its application on the basis of race and excluded Jewish Israelis - including settlers convicted of attacks against Palestinians - from the threat of having their citizenship ...

Trump insists Iran nuclear talks continue in meeting with Netanyahu

President Donald Trump met for more than two hours behind closed doors with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday and said he'd insisted that negotiations with Iran continue as the US pushes for a nuclear deal with Tehran Netanyahu entered the White House out of the view of reporters and left without issuing a statement on what was said. But Trump, in a subsequent post on his social media site, called it "a very good meeting" but said "there was nothing definitive reached, other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a Deal can be consummated." "If it can, I let the Prime Minister know that will be a preference," Trump wrote. "If it cannot, we will just have to see what the outcome will be." He added, "Last time Iran decided that they were better off not making a Deal" and were hit by US strikes. "Hopefully this time they will be more reasonable and responsible," Trump wrote. The visit from Netanyahu - their seventh meeting in .

Netanyahu to urge expanded Iran talks as Trump says Tehran wants a deal

With President Donald Trump saying he believes Iran wants to make a deal on its nuclear program, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to arrive at the White House on Wednesday with his own urgent message: Expand the talks further. The visit from Netanyahu - their seventh meeting in Trump's second term - comes as both Tehran and Washington are projecting cautious optimism after holding indirect talks in Oman on Friday about how once again to approach negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. "We'll see what happens. I think they want to make a deal," Trump said in an interview Tuesday with Fox Business Network's Larry Kudlow. "I think they'd be foolish if they didn't. We took out their nuclear power last time, and we'll have to see if we take out more this time." He added, "It's got to be a good deal. No nuclear weapons, no missiles." Netanyahu pushes for more in Iran talks ------------------------------------------ Netanyahu's office has said he wants those talks

Trump, Netanyahu meet to likely focus on energy, deregulation: White House

Heading to Washington on Tuesday to meet Trump, Netanyahu said he planned to convey Israel's position on US nuclear talks with Tehran during the meeting

US envoys Kushner, Witkoff hold talks with Netanyahu on Gaza, Iran

Talks focused on Gaza demilitarisation, hostage recovery and next steps in the ceasefire, including a reconstruction plan and a 100-day timeline for Hamas disarmament

US envoys meet Netanyahu, press Israel to enter Gaza ceasefire phase two

American officials met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, urging Israel to move into the second phase of the ceasefire that stopped the war in Gaza. Netanyahu met with President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and Middle East adviser, according to the Prime Minister's Office. The US is anxious to keep the Trump-brokered deal moving, but Netanyahu is facing pressure from within Israel not to progress to the second phase until Hamas returns the body of the last hostage it is holding in Gaza. The Rafah border crossing is both a symbolic and logistical step that is the biggest signal of the commencement of second phase, and many outside Israel are eager to see it open. Ali Shaath, the head of a new, future technocratic government in Gaza that is expected to run the day-to-day affairs, announced on Thursday that the Rafah border crossing will open in both directions this coming week. There was no confirmation from Israel, which

Israel agrees to join Trump's Board of Peace that will oversee Gaza

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday he had agreed to join US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, after his office earlier criticized the makeup of the board's committee tasked with overseeing Gaza. The board, chaired by Trump, was originally envisaged as a small group of world leaders overseeing the Gaza ceasefire plan. The Trump administration's ambitions have broadened into a more sprawling concept, with Trump extending invitations to dozens of nations and hinting it will soon broker global conflicts. The announcement is a departure from the previous stand by Netanyahu's office. It had said the composition of the Gaza executive committee which includes Turkey, a key regional rival wasn't coordinated with the Israeli government and ran "contrary to its policy, without clarifying its objections. Netanyahu's decision to join the board could now put him in conflict with some of the far-right allies in his coalition, such as Israel's Finance Minister Bezale

'Attack of unprecedented force': Netanyahu's warning to Iran amid protests

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warns Iran of a strong response if attacked, as protests and US military moves from Tehran and Washington raise regional tensions

Netanyahu says Israel closely monitoring Iran unrest, backs protesters

Netanyahu voiced strong support for the Iranian people's struggle against what he described as 'tyranny'

Israel's Netanyahu calls PM Modi, briefs him on status of Gaza peace plan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday received a phone call from his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, who shared an update on the Gaza Peace Plan and reaffirmed their shared resolve to fight terror. "The two leaders warmly exchanged New Year greetings and wished the people of both countries peace and prosperity," a statement from the prime minister's office said. It said Netanyahu briefed the prime minister on the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan. "The Prime Minister reaffirmed India's consistent support for efforts towards a just and durable peace in the region," the statement said. Modi and Netanyahu identified shared priorities to further strengthen the India-Israel Strategic Partnership in the year ahead, guided by shared democratic values, deep mutual trust and a forward-looking vision. "They reiterated their zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reaffirmed their commitment to fight this menace," the statement said.