A viral image of Indian PM Narendra Modi and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu sharing a car ride has captured global attention, coming right after Modi’s groundbreaking Knesset speech and receipt of Israel’s parliamentary top award.
Modi’s address to the Knesset in Jerusalem etched history as the first by any Indian Prime Minister. The standing ovation that followed led to Speaker Amir Ohana bestowing the ‘Speaker of the Knesset Medal,’ recognizing Modi’s role in elevating Indo-Israeli relations.
‘I’m deeply honored by this gesture, which reflects the unshakeable friendship between our two democracies,’ Modi remarked in his speech, weaving narratives of shared struggles against terrorism and quests for technological supremacy.
The post-speech highlight was the shared vehicle to a tech-focused exhibition. Modi’s social media post of the photo, with the note, ‘After addressing the Knesset, PM Netanyahu and I proceed to an exhibition on technological advancements,’ went viral, symbolizing personal diplomacy at its finest.
This honor burnishes Modi’s international resume further. Having earned Palestine’s highest foreign award, the Grand Collar in 2018, he stands out as a leader adept at navigating Middle Eastern dynamics with finesse.
The trip spotlights burgeoning collaborations in areas like AI, drones, and agri-tech, where Israel leads and India innovates at scale. Analysts see this rapport translating into enhanced intelligence sharing and investment flows. With Modi’s charm offensive in full swing, the Israel visit promises to fortify a strategic axis critical for both nations’ futures.