Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light a torch during Israel’s Independence Day next year. Modi would join Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for the event. Netanyahu said, "Modi thanked me for the invitation and said that on land and in the air, India and Israel are fighting terrorism together."
Narendra Modi and Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on February 26. File picture
Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel's Independence Day next year to light the torch along with Indian pilot Smit Machchhar who had fought off a mid-air knife attack by his FlyDubai colleague to avert an air crash last month.
There was no immediate information on whether the Prime Minister has accepted the invite. His own post on X about the conversation made no mention of the invitation; neither did the official readout. Announcing the conversation, Modi said: "Received a phone call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. We reviewed the sustained momentum in our bilateral ties and reaffirmed our commitment to further strengthening our partnership. We also exchanged views on recent developments in West Asia and underscored the urgent need to restore peace and stability in the region."
The official readout additionally said Prime Minister Modi iterated India's call for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward.
In his post on X, Netanyahu said he had invited Modi to "light the torch alongside a brave Indian pilot on Israel's Independence Day".
He added: "Modi thanked me for the invitation and said that on land and in the air, India and Israel are fighting terrorism together. He also commended the strong and decades-old ties between us."