Israel, India Sign Several Agreements During Modi’s Visit

Israel and India signed several agreements on cooperation in the fields of technology, water and agriculture Wednesday, the second day of a landmark visit by the Indian prime minister to Israel.

The cooperation shows a sign of mutual understanding, said Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, speaking alongside his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi.

The agreements are the centerpiece of Modi’s three-day visit, which began Tuesday, to celebrate the 25 years of diplomatic relations and bring them even closer. The two leaders also said they discussed counterterrorism and cybersecurity cooperation between the two states.

“Our goal is to build a relationship that reflects our shared priorities and draws on enduring bonds between our peoples,” Modi said at the joint press conference.

During the Cold War, India didn’t have open relations with Israel, leaning heavily in favor of the Palestinians. But over the past quarter century, the countries have developed close ties in high-tech and defense.

Apart from meetings with Netanyahu, Modi held talks with tech companies and the local community of Indian Jews. He also said Wednesday he would pay respects to Indian soldiers buried in Haifa who died fighting in the British Army during World War I.