Linked by blood and sacrifice, again Gaza peace: PM Modi to Israel Parliament | India Information
In a big formulation earlier than Israeli parliamentarians within the Knesset, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday backed the Gaza peace initiative, saying it holds the promise of a “simply and sturdy peace” for all individuals of the area, together with by “addressing the Palestine problem”.
His remarks are vital given {that a} fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is holding in Gaza after two years of intense combating.
Changing into the primary Indian Prime Minister to handle the Knesset, hours after he was obtained by counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and his spouse Sara on the Ben Gurion worldwide airport in Tel Aviv, Modi talked about the Palestine problem earlier than Israel’s political management seated throughout the aisle.
In a 31-minute speech, punctuated by applause and standing ovation, and heard by Netanyahu, Chief of Opposition Yair Lapid and Speaker Amir Ohana, Modi spoke of “India’s connection to this land… written in blood and sacrifice”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi being welcomed by his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and his spouse Sara Netanyahu upon arrival in Tel Aviv, Israel. (PTI)
“The Gaza peace initiative that was endorsed by the UN Safety Council affords a pathway. India has expressed its agency assist for the initiative. We consider that it holds the promise of a simply and sturdy peace for all of the individuals of the area, together with by addressing the Palestine problem.”
“Let all our efforts be guided by knowledge, braveness, and humanity. The highway to peace will not be all the time simple. However India joins you and the world for dialogue, peace and stability on this area,” he mentioned.
He struck a chord with the Israeli lawmakers when he recalled the October 7 and 26/11 terror assaults in the identical breath: “I additionally carry with me the deepest condolences of the individuals of India for each life misplaced and for each household whose world was shattered within the barbaric terrorist assault by Hamas on October 7. We really feel your ache. We share your grief. India stands with Israel, firmly, with full conviction, on this second, and past.”
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“No trigger can justify the homicide of civilians. Nothing can justify terrorism,” he mentioned, including that “India has additionally endured the ache of terrorism for a very long time. We bear in mind the 26/11 mumbai assaults and the harmless lives misplaced, together with Israeli residents. Such as you, we have now a constant and uncompromising coverage of zero tolerance for terrorism, with no double requirements.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Knesset, Israeli parliament (PTI picture)
“Terrorism goals to destabilise societies, to dam improvement, and to erode belief. Countering terrorism requires sustained and coordinated international motion, as a result of terror wherever threatens peace in every single place. That’s the reason, India helps all efforts that contribute to sturdy peace and regional stability,” he mentioned.
“Some years in the past, if you concluded the Abraham Accords, we applauded your braveness and imaginative and prescient. It was a second of recent hope for a long-troubled area. Since then, the state of affairs has modified considerably. The trail is much more difficult. But you will need to maintain that hope,” he mentioned, in a reference to the US-brokered accord to normalise ties between Israel and the Arab world, and the way the efforts had been scuttled by the October 7, 2023 assaults on Israel by Hamas and the warfare in Gaza that adopted.
Expressing optimism, Modi mentioned, “Our shared beliefs are the deep foundations that give power to our fashionable partnership. We’re democracies formed by historical past and targeted on the long run. Our partnership is grounded in shared expertise and shared aspirations. Our sturdy partnership not solely serves nationwide pursuits but additionally contributes to international stability and prosperity. Allow us to be certain that the friendship between India and Israel stays a supply of power in an unsure world.”
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, poses subsequent to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he arrives at Ben Gurion Airport close to Tel Aviv, Wednesday. (Supply: AP Photograph)
He mentioned Jewish communities have lived in India with out worry of persecution or discrimination. “They’ve preserved their religion and took part absolutely in society. That document is a supply of pleasure for us”.
Highlighting historic and cultural ties between India and Israel, courting again over 2,000 years, Modi flagged India’s financial development and strategic partnership with Israel, together with defence cooperation and technological collaboration. He additionally highlighted cultural exchanges, akin to yoga and Ayurveda in Israel, and the institution of 43 centres of excellence for agriculture in India.
Netanyahu, on his half, recalled the “Modi hug” on the airport, and described him as “greater than a good friend, a brother.” He mentioned, “You stood subsequent to Israel. You stood by Israel. You stood for Israel. You stood for the reality.”
Amir Ohana, Speaker of the Knesset, mentioned, “Prime Minister, you’re, as King David was, each statesman and a poet”.
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Opposition chief Lapid mentioned the “total State of Israel is full of admiration on your management, to your friendship, to the truth that you had been right here for us in our time of bother, and to the everlasting alliance between our two States.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Knesset, Israeli parliament (PTI picture)
Earlier within the day, after a non-public assembly with Netanyahu quickly after his arrival, Modi, in a publish on X, mentioned, “Had a superb assembly with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Expressed gratitude to him for the nice and cozy welcome earlier within the day. It’s a delight to be again in Israel after 9 years. We mentioned a variety of topics geared toward boosting bilateral ties. Sectors akin to know-how, water administration, agriculture, expertise partnership and extra provide immense scope for shut collaboration. We additionally mentioned key developments within the area.”
“I’m extraordinarily honoured to be obtained by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Mrs Netanyahu on the airport. I look ahead to partaking in bilateral discussions and fruitful outcomes that strengthen the India-Israel friendship,” he mentioned.
Welcoming him on the airport, Netanyahu mentioned, “It is a bond of actual friendship!”
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“My spouse Sara and I welcomed right this moment our good good friend, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, who has arrived for an additional historic go to to Israel. Prime Minister Modi beforehand visited Israel in 2017, and I later paid a reciprocal go to to India that was really distinctive.”
“We share a detailed private relationship, converse typically, and I consider that the deep friendship between us powerfully displays on the ties between our two international locations,” he mentioned. He mentioned they’ll go to an innovation occasion in Jerusalem, and host Prime Minister Modi at a dinner.
“Tomorrow we’ll go to Yad Vashem, and afterwards maintain one other assembly along with our groups, throughout which we’ll signal a sequence of agreements within the financial, safety, and diplomatic spheres that can additional advance cooperation between Israel and India,” Netanyahu mentioned.
India and Israel are set to raise their strategic partnership Thursday, and are additionally anticipated to signal a sequence of agreements within the financial, safety, and diplomatic spheres.