Out Of The Closet

Narendra Modi Is Set to Make History by Becoming the First Indian Pm to Visit Israel

- Sandeep Unnithan

On a road trip across Israel in late 2014, a young Israeli diplomat accompanying Indian journalists pointed to a portmanteau of highway signs for two cities, ‘Modi’in’ and ‘Jerusalem’. “Very soon,” he said. His optimism will be vindicated on July 4 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi becomes the first Indian PM to visit the Jewish nation.

“Unlike past prime ministers, Modi has no inhibitions in openly expressing his admiration for Israel’s achievements,” says G. Parthasarathy, former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan. “Others have fought shy because of domestic vote bank considerations.”

The visit comes even as the PM carries out a balancing act in West Asia by simultaneously improving ties with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Iran and Israel, making India one of a handful of major nations with excellent ties with all countries.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu hailed ‘my friend’ Modi’s upcoming visit as ‘historic’: “In the 70 years of this country’s existence, no Indian prime minister has visited, and this is a further expression of the State of Israel’s military, economic and diplomatic strength.”