PM MODI’S VISIT TO ISRAEL
The Indian PM visited Israel for the 2nd time after 2017.
He is the only Indian PM to visit Israel.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Israel from 25–26 February 2026, the bilateral relationship was officially elevated to a Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation & Prosperity.
KEY AGREEMENTS SIGNED
The visit concluded with 27 key outcomes, including the signing of 16 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements across diverse sectors.
STRATEGIC & SECURITY COOPERATION
- Defence Roadmap: Both leaders acknowledged significant growth in defence cooperation and provided a vision and roadmap for future collaboration.
- Cybersecurity CoE: A Letter of Intent was signed to establish an India-Israel Centre of Excellence in Cybersecurity in India.
- Counter-Terrorism: Leaders unequivocally condemned terrorism, including the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel and several terror incidents in India.
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
- AI Partnership: Signed an MoU on cooperation in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for civilian sectors and academic research.
- Critical Technologies (CET): Launched a new initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies led by the National Security Advisors of both nations.
- Horizon Scanning: Agreed on a “Horizon Scanning/Strategic Foresight Mechanism” to identify emerging global trends using AI.
TRADE & CONNECTIVITY
- Free Trade Agreement (FTA): Committed to an early signing of an FTA and welcomed the first negotiating round in New Delhi.
- UPI Integration: Agreed to explore linking India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with Israel’s fast payment system for cross-border transactions.
- Regional Corridors: Discussed the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the I2U2 quadrilateral partnership.
LABOUR & PEOPLE TO PEOPLE TIES
- Labour Mobility: Signed protocols to facilitate the arrival of up to 50,000 additional Indian workers in Israel over the next five years, specifically in the commerce, manufacturing, and restaurant sectors.
- Education: Established the India-Israel Academic Cooperation Forum (I2I Forum) and signed an MoU between Nalanda University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
AGRICULTURE & WATER MANAGEMENT
- Innovation Centre: Established the India-Israel Innovation Centre for Agriculture (IINCA) to focus on precision farming and satellite-based irrigation.
- Fisheries: Signed a Declaration of Intent for a Joint Centre of Excellence in Fisheries and Aquaculture.
DIPLOMATIC SIGNIFICANCE
Prime Minister Modi became the first Indian PM to address the Knesset (Israel’s Parliament), where he received the “Speaker of the Knesset Medal”.
(The Speaker of the Knesset Medal is the highest parliamentary honour of the State of Israel. It was newly instituted in February 2026 to recognise global leaders who have made exceptional contributions to Israel and the Jewish people)
During the visit, he also paid tribute at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial.
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