Netanyahu in India LIVE: Israeli PM and Wife Enter Taj; to Have Lunch With Yogi Later

Benjamin Netanyahu and Sara Netanyahu are scheduled to have lunch with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath after touring the Taj Mahal for a couple of hours.

Benjamin Netanyahu and wife Sara being accompanied by Yogi Adityanath at a hotel in Agra.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and wife Sara in Agra, received by CM Yogi Adityanath. #NetanyahuInIndia pic.twitter.com/fjgBHpGno4

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 16, 2018

The Netanyahus have entered the Taj Mahal complex riding battery-operated golf carts. The Taj complex has been shut for all other visitors since 11am. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and wife Sara are being accompanied by the Israeli delegation and security personnel. They are expected to tour the monument for a couple of hours as the couple has the entire monument to themselves, reports CNN-News18's Zeba Warsi.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaches the five-star hotel along with wife Sara and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. They will soon reach the Taj Mahal riding golf carts. The monument will remain shut for a few hours for the Israeli delegation's visit. The Prime Minister is being accompanied by his security personnel. 

NETANYAHUS REACH AGRA | Benjamin Netanyahu and wife Sara have now reached Agra. They will first be taken to the Oberoi Amarvilas and then the Taj Mahal through the eastern gates in golf carts. After touring the Taj for a couple of hours they will return to the hotel, where Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will host them for lunch at the hotel.

Speaking on the issue of terror combat, both Modi and Netanyahu on Monday reiterated the importance of building comprehensive cooperation in counter-terrorism, including cyber-space. On his part, Netanyahu said Indians and Israelis know the "true pain" of a terror attacks.

India and Israel inked nine pacts to boost cooperation in key areas such as cyber security and gas and oil after extensive delegation-level talks.

NETANYAHU'S LOVE FOR BOLLYWOOD | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he and his wife Sara were elated that they will get to to see Bollywood up close when they travel to Mumbai. Netanyahu will be travelling to Mumbai on January 18 and will attend an exclusive "Shalom Bollywood" event. "My wife and I are very happy, we going to Bollywood. We would like to see it first hand," the Israeli prime minister, popularly known as 'Bibi', said at a joint press event with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Modi and Netanyahu also noted with that the next meeting of the Joint Working Groups on Homeland and Public Security will be held in February 2018, the statement said. They reiterated the importance of building comprehensive cooperation in counter-terrorism, including cyber-space, a joint statement issued on Monday said.

JOINT STATEMENT ON TERROR | Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday held "wide- ranging and intensive" talks to bolster cooperation in key areas such as defence and counter-terrorism. The two leaders noted the "grave" threat that terrorism poses to peace and security, including from non-state actors, and reiterated that there can be no justification for acts of terror on any ground, a joint statement, issued after the Modi-Netanyahu meeting, said. They also advocated strong measures against terrorists, terror organisations, those who sponsor, encourage or finance terrorism or provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups, it said.

Elaborate arrangements in Agra as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the Taj Mahal. 

#Visuals from Agra ahead of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visit to Taj Mahal today #NetanyahuInIndia pic.twitter.com/BCUcCGwBSG

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 16, 2018

The Taj Mahal will be closed for visitors between 11 am and 12.30 am on Tuesday morning as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and wife Sara tour the 17th century monument. 

One of the many hugs that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu exchanged on Monday, reflecting on the great camaraderie the two share. (Image courtesy: Twitter/@narendramodi)

MODI-NETANYAHU BONHOMIE | The bonhomie between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his "good friend" Benjamin Netanyahu was on full display on Monday and grabbed the headlines as the two leaders hugged and shook hands a number of times during their joint press event. While the visiting Israeli prime minister called Modi a "revolutionary leader" and used an endearment like "my friend Narendra", Modi responded with great warmth, welcoming the guest in Hebrew. Netanyahu said he was willing to participate in a "yoga class" with his "friend Narendra". The same is likely to continue on Tuesday as well when PM Modi accompanies Netanyahu and his wife Sara to Agra.

ARRANGEMENTS IN AGRA | Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has made elaborate arrangements to welcome Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara to Agra on Tuesday. They will be accompanied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Taj Mahal. The roads leading to the 17th century mausoleum has been covered with posters and hoardings with welcome messages for Netanyahu. Heavy police deployment along the way as the Israeli leader heads for Agra.

Netanyahu will be accompanied by a 130-member delegation from various sectors including cyber, agriculture and defence.

"India's development agenda is huge. It presents a vast economic opportunity for Israeli companies. I invite more and more Israeli people, businesses and companies to come and work in India," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while promising all support to them. In the presence of visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Modi said, "We want to do more and do better" to improve ease of doing business in the country.

INVESTMENTS | Promising more reforms to further improve the ease of doing business, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday invited investments from Israeli companies saying the country has a huge development agenda and offers vast opportunities. Speaking at India-Israel Business Summit in New Delhi, Modi referred to the further opening up of the single brand retail to foreign investment recently as also allowing foreign airlines to buy stake in national carrier Air India, saying that substantial reforms have been undertaken by his government.

MOSHE IN MUMBAI | Meanwhile, Moshe Holtzberg, who lost his parents during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, has reached Mumbai to visit the Nariman House for the first time since the tragedy struck the family more than nine years ago. Moshe, who is 11 years old now, will participate at the 26/11 memorial service in Taj Hotel along with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. Moshe was two years old when his parents - Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivika - were killed during the siege at the Nariman House by 10 Pakistani terrorists in November 2008.

ON JERUSALEM | India and Israel will not allow "a single issue" to determine ties -- this was the message given on Monday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in the backdrop of New Delhi voting against the Jewish country on the Jerusalem issue at the UN. During their "wide-ranging and intensive" talks, the issue of India's position on Palestine, resulting in its voting against Israel at the UN on the Jerusalem issue, also figured with Indian officials maintaining that both sides put forth their views.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday announced joint research and development projects under the India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F). The 'I4Fund Call for Proposal' was announced with the launch of a website as well as the unveiling of a brochure by the two prime ministers at the India-Israel Business Summit in New Delhi. The fund was announced in July, 2017 during Modi's visit to Israel. Under this, the Department of Science and Technology, India and the National Innovation Authority of Israel have established a $40 million fund.

RECAP | During the second day of his visit on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and PM Narendra Modi held bilateral talks at Delhi's Hyderabad House. Before the meeting, Netanyahu and his wife Sara lay a wreath on Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat and also visited the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

MONDAY'S TALKS & PACTS | India and Israel on Monday inked nine pacts to boost cooperation in key areas, including cyber security, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu held extensive talks to strengthen ties in the strategic areas of defence and counter-terrorism. Modi also invited Israeli defence companies to India for co-production in the sector. India and Israel will strengthen the existing pillars of cooperation in areas such as agriculture, technology and security, Modi said at a joint media event with Netanyahu.

Netanyahu will be travelling to Mumbai on January 18 and will attend an exclusive

The theme of the Raisina Dialogue this year is 'Managing Disruptive Transitions: Ideas, Institutions and Idioms', it said. Army chief General Bipin Rawat and Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba will also address a session, along with Admiral Harry Harris, Commander, US Pacific Command, General Chris Deverell, Joint Forces Commander, UK, among others, an official statement said.

RAISINA DIALOGUE | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will inaugurate the third edition of the geo-political conference, 'Raisina Dialogue', on Tuesday afternoon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will also be a part of the inaugural session of the three-day event, which has an impressive line up of more than 150 speakers and over 550 delegates. Netanyahu arrived in New Delhi on Monday on a six-day visit. The event, jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and Observer Research Foundation (ORF), will take place at the Taj Palace Hotel in the national capital, the organisers said in a statement.

Benjamin Netanyahu is the first Israeli Prime Minister in 15 years to visit India but he comes at a time when his political standing is at the weakest in his three-decade long career. The grand welcome accorded to him by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi may not signal this, but observers in Tel Aviv would be closely watching the takeaways from the visit beyond the optics. 

NINE MOUs | India and Israel signed nine MoUs, including those on film cooperation, cyber cooperation on Monday. Addressing a joint press conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi heaped praises on Netanyahu and India's relations with Israel. Modi said, "My good friend, Bibi welcome to India, your visit marks a special beginning to our New Year calendar." Reciprocating the gesture, Netanyahu called PM Narendra Modi a revolutionary leader and said, "With Modi, I feel like I am in a rock concert.

NETANYAHU IN AGRA | On Tuesday around 11 am, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanied by his wife Sara, will leave for Agra to see Taj Mahal. He will later visit Delhi and participate in the Raisina Dialogue, where he is scheduled to deliver an inaugural speech at 4:30 pm. Netanyahu arrived in India on Sunday for his six-day visit. Six months earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first ever Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel. Netanyahu is being accompanied by a 130-member delegation from various sectors, including cyber, agriculture and defence.