Modi begins historic visit to Israel

JERUSALEM, Middle East - Narendra Modi landed in Israel on Tuesday for the first visit by an Indian prime minister to the country. His three-day visit marks 25 years of full diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Modi was welcomed with an official ceremony at the Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet colleagues.

In a brief speech at the airport, Netanyahu said: "It is truly a historic visit. It's the first time an Indian prime minister is visiting Israel. We receive you with open arms. We love India. We love your culture, your history ..."

Netanyahu praised the ties between the two nations, noting that the Israeli and Indian governments are establishing a $40 million innovation fund "as a seed for further innovation".

Modi said that it is his "singular honor to be the first prime minister of India to undertake this groundbreaking visit to Israel".

He promised to forge "a strong and resilient partnership with Israel".

"They have nurtured it with hard work and the spirit of innovation. India applauds your achievements," he said.

India is the world's biggest importer of defense equipment, and Israel has become one of its major suppliers. Israeli media have reported that the two countries sign defense deals averaging more than $1 billion a year.

Netanyahu will accompany Modi for most of his trip, which included a visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, and working meetings with President Reuven Rivlin and opposition leader Isaac Herzog.

His itinerary also includes meetings with industry leaders in the fields of water, agriculture, and high-tech, as well as with people from the Indian community and Moshe Holtzberg, whose parents were killed in the 2008 attack on the Mumbai Jewish center of Chabad House.

Later on Wednesday, Modi and Netanyahu were expected to sign several cooperation agreements in the areas of water, energy, and research and development.

In a tweet on his Twitter account ahead of his departure, Modi described Delhi's ties with Israel as "special", saying terrorism and trade will be on the table during talks with Netanyahu.

In an interview to the Hebrew-language newspaper Israel Hayom, Modi said that his visit is "based on the deep centuries-old connection between our two peoples".

Modi was not scheduled to travel to Ramallah city in the West Bank, the political center of the Palestinian National Authority and a usual stop for leaders seeking to maintain balanced ties with Israel and the Palestinians.

The visit comes 25 years after the two countries established full diplomatic ties and 14 years after the late Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, arrived in New Delhi.

Xinhua - Afp - Ap