PM’s Visit to Israel and India–Israel Relations

When did PM Narendra Modi undertake his two-day State Visit to Israel in 2026?

25–26 February 2026.

At whose invitation did PM Narendra Modi visit Israel in February 2026?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

What major upgrade in India–Israel relations was announced during Modi’s February 2026 Israel visit?

The relationship was upgraded to a Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation and Prosperity.

How many agreements/MoUs were signed during Modi’s February 2026 Israel visit?

More than 17 agreements and MoUs covering technology, agriculture, defence, education, labour mobility and other sectors.

What was significant about Modi’s 2026 Israel visit in relation to his earlier visit?

It was his second visit to Israel; his first was in 2017.

What were the major diplomatic engagements during Modi’s 2026 Israel visit?

He addressed the Knesset and visited Yad Vashem, strengthening parliamentary and people-to-people ties.

Which terrorist incidents were specifically referenced in the leaders’ counter-terrorism position in 2026?

The 7 October 2023 Hamas attack, 22 April 2025 Pahalgam attack and 10 November 2025 Red Fort terror incident.

When did India officially recognise Israel?

India officially recognised Israel in 1950.

When were full diplomatic relations established between India and Israel?

Full diplomatic relations were established in 1992.

Why did India delay establishing full diplomatic relations with Israel until 1992?

India’s historical support for the Palestinian cause and Cold War-era considerations contributed to the delay.

How did India–Israel bilateral trade grow between 1992 and FY 2024–25?

It grew from about USD 200 million to USD 3.75 billion.

What is significant about Israel in India’s trade with the Middle East?

Israel is India’s second-largest country trading partner in the Middle East.

What are major Indian exports to Israel?

Pearls and precious stones, diesel, chemicals, machinery, textiles and agricultural products.

What are major Indian imports from Israel?

Diamonds, fertilisers, petroleum products, machinery and defence equipment.

What was India’s cumulative ODI to Israel between 2000 and 2025?

About USD 443 million.

How much Israeli FDI did India receive between 2004 and 2025?

About USD 334.2 million.

Why did India–Israel defence cooperation grow sharply after 1999?

Israel supplied emergency defence requirements to India during the Kargil conflict.

What major missile system was jointly developed by India and Israel?

The Barak-8 missile system.

What are the two major DRDO–Israel Aerospace Industries missile projects mentioned in the chapter?

Surface-to-air missile systems with 70-km interception range and naval warship systems with about 260-km range.

What anti-tank guided missile has India procured from Israel?

The Spike ATGM, including 321 missiles and 8,356 missiles in the cited procurement.

What is the significance of Spike ATGMs for India’s defence indigenisation?

Their procurement included plans for indigenous large-scale manufacture of third-generation ATGMs.

What Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle capability has India acquired?

Heron medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles, including an order for 16 vehicles.

What is the Phalcon AWACS system?

An airborne warning and control system developed through an India–Israel–Russia tripartite arrangement.

What Israeli airborne warning systems is India planning to acquire additionally?

Two more Phalcon AWACS aircraft for over USD 1 billion.

What are Aerostat radars used for in India’s defence cooperation with Israel?

They provide surveillance/airborne warning capabilities; India procured four Aerostat radars.

What is the significance of the 2017 India–Israel visit by PM Modi?

It marked a shift to an independent India–Israel engagement approach without conditioning ties on the Palestine issue.

What did Netanyahu’s 2018 reciprocal visit to India achieve?

It further consolidated the new approach and strengthened the bilateral partnership across multiple domains.

What is I2U2 and which four countries constitute it?

I2U2 is a minilateral grouping of India, Israel, the United States and the United Arab Emirates.

What is the IMEC and why is it relevant to India–Israel ties?

The India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor is a connectivity framework linking India with the Middle East and Europe.

What is the India–Israel Industrial Research and Development and Innovation Fund (I4F)?

A bilateral innovation fund jointly implemented by India’s DST and Israel Innovation Authority for industrial R&D.

Until when does the I4F mandate mentioned in the chapter run?

It runs through 2027.

What is the Joint Industrial Research and Development Cooperation (JIRDC) mechanism?

A mechanism jointly implemented by India’s DST and Israel’s Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology to facilitate joint university research through shared facilities, equipment and scientist exchanges.

How many India–Israel Centres of Excellence for agriculture were established?

43 Centres of Excellence were established for transfer of Israeli agricultural technologies adapted to Indian conditions.

How many Indian farmers had been trained at Israel-linked agricultural Centres of Excellence by 2026?

More than one million Indian farmers.

What did the 2016 MoU on Water Resources between India and Israel focus on?

Water conservation, irrigation reforms and integrated water management.

What is notable about the Barak-8 system and the Indian Navy’s cooperation with Israel?

India and Israel co-developed Barak-8, while the Indian Navy conducts regular port calls at Haifa, Israel.

What was the status of India–Israel investment treaties after the earlier BIT ended?

A new India–Israel Bilateral Investment Agreement was signed in September 2025, replacing the 1996 BIT terminated in 2017.

What was the key purpose of the September 2025 India–Israel Bilateral Investment Agreement?

To provide transparent standards, predictable treatment and an independent dispute-resolution framework for investments.

What was the outcome of the February 2026 State Visit regarding the bilateral relationship?

The relationship was formally upgraded to a Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation and Prosperity.

What were the core areas of the upgraded Special Strategic Partnership?

Peace, innovation, prosperity, defence, technology, trade, agriculture and people-to-people cooperation.

What new initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (CET) was launched in 2026?

A Horizon Scanning and Strategic Foresight mechanism led by the National Security Advisors of India and Israel.

What was agreed under the India–Israel AI cooperation MoU?

Cooperation on ethical AI, civilian applications, academic research, capacity-building, public-private partnerships and AI talent linkages.

What was the purpose of the India–Israel cybersecurity Letter of Intent?

To establish a Centre of Excellence in Cybersecurity in India and deepen cooperation in emerging technologies, digital resilience and applied research.

What happened to India and Israel’s Joint Industrial Research Calls funding?

Both sides agreed to raise contributions from USD 1 million to USD 1.5 million each.

What does the India–Israel geophysical exploration MoU cover?

Cooperation in mineral exploration using advanced geophysical methods and AI, including data sharing and sustainable resource development.

What is the India–Israel cooperation on digital payments and fintech?

NIPL and Israel’s MASAV agreed to explore cross-border remittances using UPI and Israel’s fast-payment system.

What is MASAV in the India–Israel fintech context?

MASAV is Israel’s payment-system operator involved in exploring interoperability with India’s UPI for cross-border remittances.

What labour-mobility arrangement was signed between India and Israel?

Three Implementation Protocols were signed covering commerce/services, manufacturing and the restaurant sector.

How many additional Indian workers could arrive in Israel under the labour-mobility arrangements?

Up to 50,000 additional Indian workers over the next five years.

What education agreement was signed between Nalanda University and Hebrew University of Jerusalem?

An MoU for faculty and student exchanges across disciplines and cooperation through the India–Israel Academic Cooperation Forum.

What maritime heritage and cultural cooperation was agreed between India and Israel?

An MoU on underwater archaeology supporting the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal and a Cultural Exchange Programme for 2026–2029.

What parliamentary and people-to-people initiative followed Modi’s Israel visit?

An India–Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group was established following an MoU between the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Knesset.

Which Israeli parliament did PM Modi address during his 2026 visit?

The Knesset, Israel’s Parliament.

What honour was conferred on PM Narendra Modi by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana?

The “Medal of the Knesset,” also reported as the Speaker of the Knesset Medal.

Which Holocaust memorial did PM Modi visit during the Israel trip?

Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.

What is Israel’s geographical location and which countries border it?

Israel lies on the eastern Mediterranean coast; it borders Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt.

Which Palestinian territories are geographically adjacent to Israel?

The West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

What is Israel’s lowest natural point and where is it located?

The Dead Sea area, within the Jordan Rift Valley, is the lowest natural point on Earth’s surface.

Why is Jerusalem significant to Judaism, Christianity and Islam?

It is a major sacred city for all three religions, with key holy sites concentrated particularly in the Old City.

Which shared sacred platform is central to Jerusalem’s religious geography?

The Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif.

What is the religious significance of the Western Wall?

It is part of the retaining wall around the Temple Mount complex and is a major Jewish prayer and pilgrimage site.

What is the significance of Al-Aqsa Mosque?

It is a major Islamic holy site within the Old City and is associated with the Prophet Muhammad’s Night Journey (Isra).

What is the significance of the Dome of the Rock?

It is one of the oldest surviving Islamic monuments, built in the 7th century, on the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif.

Why is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre important?

It is a major Christian holy site associated with Jesus’s crucifixion, burial and resurrection traditions.

What is the strategic significance of India–Israel ties in the Indo-Pacific/minilateral context?

The partnership operates through platforms such as I2U2 and connectivity initiatives such as IMEC, alongside defence, technology and innovation cooperation.