Netanyahu in India LIVE: Narendra Modi Welcomes Israel PM With Warm Hug

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu attended a ceremony at the Teen Murti Memorial today to mark the formal renaming of Teen Murti Chowk as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. The two leaders lay a wreath and signed the visitor's book at the memorial. The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade. The brigade carried out the victorious assault on the fortified city of Haifa on September 23, 1918, during World War I.

Delhi: Israel PM Netanyahu & PM Modi lay wreath at Teen Murti Chowk #NetanyahuInIndia pic.twitter.com/M2lTuNLpAs

— ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2018

Israel PM Netanyahu and PM Narendra Modi attend ceremony to mark the formal renaming of Teen Murti Chowk as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. They were received by Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and Foreign Secy S Jaishankar. 

After welcoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, PM Modi tweeted "Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu!"

Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations. @IsraeliPM #ShalomNamaste pic.twitter.com/sidgMmA1fu

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu will now attend a solemn ceremony at the Teen Murti Memorial to mark the formal renaming of Teen Murti Chowk as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. The two leaders will also lay a wreath and sign the visitor's book at the memorial. 

PM Narendra Modi received Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a warm hug

#WATCH Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu received by PM Narendra Modi in Delhi. #NetanyahuInIndia pic.twitter.com/CTv4rlEWSg

— ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2018

Setting aside protocol, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today received his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, who arrived on a six-day visit. He welcomed Netanyahu with a hug upon his arrival.

The visit marks 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and takes place about six months after Modi's trip to Israel, the first by an Indian prime minister to the Jewish state. Netanyahu's visit to India is only the second one by an Israeli prime minister and comes after a gap of 15 years. Former prime minister Ariel Sharon visited India in 2003.

Visuals of Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu's arrival in Delhi

PM Narendra Modi arrives at Delhi Airport to receive Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

PM Narendra Modi arrives at Delhi Airport to receive Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu. pic.twitter.com/1TSRzX9mAW

— ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2018

Gal-Mobile is an independent, integrated water purification vehicle, designed to produce high-quality drinking water. It can be useful in natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, military use in difficult terrain and rural areas to provide drinkable water. It can purify up to 20,000 litres per day of seawater and 80,000 litres per day of brackish/muddy or contaminated river water and bring it to WHO standards. The jeep is said to cost around 390,000 shekels (approximately $111,000). (Photo: Twitter/ Narendra Modi)

Netanyahu's special gift for PM Modi

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will present a special gift - the Gal-Mobile water desalinisation and purification jeep - to his friend Narendra Modi during his visit, according to sources. Netanyahu and Modi waded into the Mediterranean Sea and rode the "buggy" jeep on the coast during the latter's visit to Israel in July last year. 

India-Israel to Discuss ISIS, Border Issues

Terrorism with special focus on ISIS, border fencing and cyber security will be brought to the table when India's security establishment meets the Israeli delegation accompanying Netanyahu. “ISIS is operative in Israel's neighbourhood and a lot of Indians have reportedly with ISIS. It's an issue of mutual concern and will be taken up for discussion,” an MHA official said. The fenced India-Pakistan international border and the problems of infiltration, drug trafficking etc that India face is also likely to be discussed. Ministry officials said that the technology and patrolling methods that Israel employs on its border with Palestine is also something that India wants to learn from.

"This evening I am leaving on an historic visit to India. I will meet with the Prime Minister, my friend Narendra Modi, with the Indian President and with many other leaders. We will sign very many agreements," Netanyahu said in statement. "We are strengthening ties between Israel and this important global power. This serves our security, economic, trade and tourism interests, as well as many other areas. This is a great blessing for the State of Israel," he said. "Indian Prime Minister Modi is a close friend of Israel and of mine and I appreciate the fact that he will accompany me on extensive parts of my visit," Netanyahu said just before leaving for New Delhi. "On this visit I intend to strengthen bilateral relations even more. This visit is an opportunity to enhance cooperation with a global economic, security, technology and tourism power," he added. 

India recently called off the deal to procure 8,000 missiles, souring the build up to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the country this week.

India and Israel have deep defence and security ties, and Netanyahu's six-day visit is likely to further strengthen them. Israel is a major weapons supplier to India, exporting an average of $1 billion of military equipment each year. In April last year, the two countries signed a military deal worth nearly $2 billion which includes the supply of medium-range surface-to-air missiles, launchers and communications technology. 

A warm welcome awaits PM Narendra Modi and Benjamin Netanyahu when the two visit the former's home state, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said on Thursday. The two leaders, who hit it off during Modi's visit to Israel in July last year, the first by an Indian Prime Minister since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1992, would visit two centres of excellence and inaugurate another such facility. They are also likely to visit the Sabarmati Ashram, the abode of Mahatma Gandhi for a long time, here, Rupani said. According to an Ahmedabad civic body official, a joint roadshow on an 8 km stretch from the city airport to the Sabarmati Ashram is also on the cards.

Israel PM #BenjaminNetanyahu to arrive in India later today on a six day visit. Visuals from Delhi's Teen Murti where PM Modi and PM #Netanyahu will attend ceremony to mark the formal renaming of Teen Murti Chowk as the Teen Murti Haifa Chowk pic.twitter.com/CAD1GodtTw

— ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2018

Renaming of Teen Murti Chowk as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu will today attend a solemn ceremony at the Teen Murti Memorial here to mark the formal renaming of Teen Murti Chowk as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. The two leaders will also lay a wreath and sign the visitor's book at the memorial, official sources said. The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade. The brigade carried out the victorious assault on the fortified city of Haifa on September 23, 1918, during World War I. Forty-four Indian soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice during the liberation of the city in World War I. Till date, the 61 Cavalry celebrates September 23 as its Raising Day or "Haifa Day."

Political observers believe this is the Prime Minister's strategy to showcase development projects initiated by him as the Chief Minister of the state to world leaders and emphasise on decentralisation experiments that he has been working on.

On Thursday, Netanyahu will have a power breakfast with Indian CEOs and attend a business seminar. He will also lay a wreath at Taj Hotel Mumbai and pay a visit to Nariman House - Chabad Centre. He will also reach out to Bollywood personalities in an exclusive 'Shalom Bollywood' event, that aims at exploring business opportunities for Indian filmmakers in Israel.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu, accompanied by his wife Sara, will leave for Agra to see Taj Mahal. On the same day, he will visit Delhi and participate in the Raisina Dialogue, where he is scheduled to deliver an inaugural speech. He will leave for Ahmedabad on the fourth day of his tour and visit Sabarmati Ashram. The minister will also attend an event at the International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (iCreate). He will later visit the Centre of Excellence, Vadrad. On the same day, the minister will leave for Mumbai.

Later in the day, Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj. On Monday, the visiting dignitary will be given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan which will be followed by the wreath laying at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. Netanyahu will also meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and hold delegation level talks. The two sides will sign agreements and also issue a joint press statement. 

PM Narendra Modi will break protocol to receive Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, at the airport this afternoon. When PM Modi visited Israel, Netanyahu not only received Modi at the airport in July last year, but was accorded the kind of welcome by every religious sect that is reserved for Popes and US Presidents.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is arriving in India today for a six-day visit. This comes six months after Narendra Modi became the first ever Indian Prime Minister to visit the Jewish nation. Netanyahu will be accompanied by a 130-member delegation from various sectors including cyber, agriculture and defence.