India Israel Ties

Israel's military apologises for incorrect depiction of India's map

The Israeli military on Saturday apologised for posting a map that incorrectly depicted Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan after objections from Indian social media users, clarifying that the image "fails to precisely depict borders". The map was posted by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on their X handle on Friday to show the range of Iranian missiles. The post quickly drew criticism from social media users in India. "Now you understand why India remains neutral. In diplomacy, no one's really your friend," one user commented on X. In response, the IDF admitted that the map "fails to precisely depict borders". "This post is an illustration of the region. This map fails to precisely depict borders. We apologize for any offense caused by this image," IDF said on X. "Iran is a global threat. Israel is not the end goal, it's only the beginning. We had no other choice but to act," the IDF earlier posted along with the incorrect map, justifying the launch of Operation Rising Lion ..

India's concerns legitimate, can play role in de-escalating: Israeli envoy

Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, on Saturday expressed optimism about India's potential to mediate in the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran following a telephonic conversation between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "India has avenues for dialogue with both sides. It can indeed play a role. We are happy to have this sincere dialogue with India, which is a very good friend... We listen carefully to your concerns. I think they are legitimate," Azar said in an interview with PTI Videos. The remarks came amid heightened tensions in West Asia, with both Israel and Iran launching strikes against each other. Netanyahu called Prime Minister Modi on Friday to brief him on Israel's actions, which the ambassador described as defensive measures to counter an "existential threat" posed by Iran's nuclear ambitions and ballistic missile programme. "No country in the world is interested in this kind of situation," Azar said, emphasisi

Goyal, Israeli economy minister discuss boosting trade, innovation ties

Our discussions focused on diversifying our trade basket, fostering innovation, and strengthening cooperation in high-tech and emerging sectors, Goyal said about the meeting

Oil hits 1-week high as dollar weakens on Israel-Iran strike report

Geopolitical tensions may add headwinds to the markets, which had calmed recently after a month of turmoil from the tariff blitz unleashed by US President Donald Trump

Israel revises advisory urging its citizens to leave Kashmir immediately

Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Israel has updated the existing travel advisory for its nationals urging those in the Kashmir region to leave immediately. The revised advisory came on Wednesday after the Indian military carried out strikes against terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan's Punjab province earlier in the day. Pakistan army carried out one of the most intense artillery and mortar shelling in years targeting forward villages along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. The Israeli Foreign Ministry called on Israelis to avoid visiting the Jammu and Kashmir region, with the exception of Ladakh. Israelis currently in Kashmir should leave immediately and obey the instructions of local security forces, the ministry said. This is in line with the existing travel advisory issued by the National Security Council, it added. India launched Operation Sindoor early Wednesday hitting nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Punj

Israel backs India's 'right to self defence' following Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor: India launched a high-level military mission targeting nine sites associated with terrorist organisations

Govt seeks market access for 10 agricultural products from Israel

India has requested Israel to provide market access for 10 agricultural commodities during a bilateral meeting between Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his Israeli counterpart Avi Dichter on Tuesday here. The products India is seeking access for include onion, potato, garlic, green chilies, turmeric, pineapple, mango, pomegranate, grapes, and okra seeds. "On day-to-day trade, we are going to communicate to both Plant Protection Indian Israel Services (PPIS) in order to make sure that we shall be able to increase merchandise shipments from one side to the another," Dichter told media after the meeting. The two countries also signed a bilateral pact to extend cooperation in agriculture, with a work plan discussed for 2024-26. India expressed particular interest in exporting onions and green chilies to Israel and will send technical information soon, according to sources. India also requested Israel to expedite the process and grant market access to the other eight ...

Israel anticipates more Indian tourists amid possible easing tensions

As gunfire echoed and smoke filled the air, a steadfast stream of pilgrims from Kerala made its way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Israel. Undeterred by the region's unrest, these devotees undertook a journey to the Holy Sepulchre, which houses Christ's tomb, driven by faith. For centuries, Christians worldwide have flocked to this revered site, and for Keralites, especially Christian faithfuls, its appeal remains strong. The data from the Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) reveals that 9,600 Indian tourists visited Israel in 2024, with 50 per cent of them travelling for pilgrimage--most of them from Kerala. According to an IMOT spokesperson, in the current scenario, Israel expects more pilgrim tourists from Kerala. "We are expecting around 70,000 tourists travelling to Israel from India this year, and of this, 48 per cent are pilgrims," Amruta Bangera, Director of Marketing, IMOT-India told PTI. All the tourist attractions are completely safe, and the safety of tourists i

10 missing Indian workers rescued from West Bank by Israeli authorities

Indian workers were lured to a village in the West Bank with job promises, where their passports were confiscated. Israeli authorities have since rescued them, and they are now in a safe location

Israeli authorities rescue 10 Indian workers in Palestinian village

The workers were stuck in A-Za'im for more than one month before the Population and Immigration Authority rescued them

Jaishankar, Sa'ar discuss Trump's vision of connecting Israel with India

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on Saturday President Donald Trump's vision of connecting Asia, Europe, and the United States through Israel. A statement from the Israeli Foreign Minister's office said Jaishankar and Sa'ar met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, a key global forum to discuss security-diplomatic affairs. The two leaders also spoke about the challenges posed by attacks on trade routes by the Houthis and Iran, it said. Sa'ar also highlighted the strategic importance Israel places on its relations with India. Trump in a joint conference with Prime Minister Modi on Thursday said that the US and India have agreed to work together to help build "one of the greatest trade routes in all of history." "It will run from India to Israel to Italy and onward to the United States, connecting our partners by ports, railways, and undersea cables many, many undersea cables. It's a big development," he said. He added,

India, Israel share warm ties beyond strategic partnership: Knesset speaker

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana has said India and Israel not only are strategic partners in many areas but their people also share a warm and honest relationship. Ohana, seen as a close confidant of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also credited the prime ministers of both the countries for "having worked hard" to strengthen and deepen the relationship between "big and powerful" India and "small and creative" Israel. Recalling his visit to India in March 2023, the Speaker said it was not accidental that he chose India as his first overseas destination for a visit. "I chose India as the first destination for my overseas trip after entering office as the Speaker of the Knesset. The first trip is also a reflection of the importance of a place in our relationship. It was also the first visit of any Knesset speaker to India", Ohana said. "During the time of the visit and also after it, the strong sentiments towards India only deepened. India is not only a strategic partner of Isra

Can look at 10x growth in India-Israel bilateral trade: Piyush Goyal

The Israel-India Business Forum saw participation from industry members of both countries

We are more than happy to collaborate with India on IMEC project: Israel

Israel on Tuesday expressed keenness to collaborate with India on the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and said a team is working on an element of the project. Billed as a path-breaking initiative, the IMEC envisages a vast road, railroad and shipping networks among Saudi Arabia, India, the US, and Europe to ensure integration among Asia, Middle East, and West. The IMEC initiative was firmed up on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi in September 2023. An agreement was signed by India, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the US and some other G20 partners for the corridor. "We are more than happy to collaborate on IMEC which is actually connecting India and Asia to Europe via Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel," Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry Nir M Barkat told reporters here. He was addressing the media after co-chairing India-Israel CEO Forum meet with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. Barkat is leading a big .

India, Israel to discuss ways to promote trade, investments in Feb 11 meet

Top business leaders, policymakers, and industry stakeholders from India and Israel will meet here on Tuesday to discuss ways to further promote trade and investments between the two countries, an official statement said on Monday. They will explore new avenues of economic cooperation, technological collaboration, and investment opportunities, the commerce and industry ministry said. It said that the India-Israel Business Forum meeting will focus on expanding trade relationships, fostering cross-sector collaborations, and identifying investment opportunities. A high-level Israeli business delegation, led by Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry Nir M Barkat will participate in the forum. The delegation includes Israeli enterprises and representatives from sectors such as technology, manufacturing, healthcare, agri-tech, food processing, defense, homeland security, water management, logistics, and retail. There is also a meeting of the India-Israel CEO Forum. "These forums will

Israel's Minister Nir Barkat to lead business delegation to India on Feb 10

Israel's Minister of Economy and Industry, Nir Barkat, will be leading the largest business delegation from the country to India next week to boost bilateral trade in what would be his third official visit to New Delhi. The two-day visit starts next week on Monday. Barkat will also be meeting Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal during the trip. "The largest ever multi-sectoral CEO level delegation from Israel comprises over 100 innovative Israeli companies from healthcare, energy, cybersecurity, defence and HLS, agritech, smart mobility, watertech, foodTech, and more," officials told PTI. The high-profile visit is being coordinated by the Ministry of Economy & Industry on the Israeli side and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry on the Indian side. It will involve the participation of all the major chambers from Israel - the Israel Export Institute, Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce and The Manufacturers Association of Israel, while FICCI and CII will be taking

Staff Talks: India, Israel hold 13th round, focus on improving defence ties

In 2024, the two countries held the 17th India-Israel Foreign Office Consultations, reflecting the strength of the India-Israel Strategic Partnership

JP Singh appointed India's new ambassador to Israel amid West Asia crisis

Seasoned diplomat Jitender Pal Singh was on Friday appointed as India's new ambassador to Israel, a posting seen as important in view of the current situation in the Middle-east. Singh, a 2002-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) diplomat, is presently serving as the joint secretary in the crucial Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran (PAI) division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). "He is expected to take up the assignment shortly," the MEA said in a brief statement. As India's pointperson for Afghanistan, he played an important role in execution of India's policy approach towards the Taliban set up in that country. In November, Singh met the Taliban's acting defence minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob and discussed ways to expand the relations between the two sides. The meeting is believed to have paved the way for Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's talks with Taliban regime's acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai over two weeks back. Singh's posting to Israel comes amid an .

Support from Indians warming our hearts: Israeli Ambassador Reuven Azar

He further emphasised the importance of continued cooperation between Israel and India, stating, 'We will continue working with India to promote cooperation in the region.'

Palestinian envoy urges world leaders to ensure ceasefire details fulfilled

As a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on Sunday, the charg d'affaires of the Palestine Embassy in India, Abed Elrazeg Abu Jazer, urged the international community to implement every detail in the long-awaited agreement. The envoy also sought India's assistance in the reconstruction work in war-torn Gaza. The deal involves numerous technical details that are complex and challenging. It requires not only a follow-up by the Trump administration or the UN but also by all the powerful countries around the world," Abu Jazer told PTI. "We urge the international community to ensure the implementation of every detail in the ceasefire agreement," he said. The ceasefire and hostage-release deal between the two sides followed 15 months of conflict that was triggered by a shocking attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023. The deal is expected to stop the ongoing war in Gaza and facilitate the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Seeking India's assistance in the .