Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in New Delhi on Sunday to mark the beginning of his 6-day visit to India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed his Israeli counterpart at the Delhi airport.
Both the leaders will attend a solemn ceremony at the Teen Murti Memorial here in New Delhi to attend the formal renaming of Teen Murti Chowk and Teen Murti Marg after Israeli city Haifa.
The two leaders will also lay a wreath and sign the visitor’s book at the memorial, official sources said.
A special welcome for a special visit…PM @narendramodi personally receives @IsraeliPM @netanyahu at Delhi airport. Watch. https://t.co/DoTigXzoqR #ShalomNamaste
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 14, 2018
The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade.
The brigade carried out the victorious assault on the fortified city of Haifa on September 23, 1918, during World War I.
Israeli PM Netanyahu is the second Prime Minister from his country after Ariel Sharon to visit India in the last 25 years. He is accompanied by a 130-member delegation from various sectors including cyber, agriculture and defence.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also greeted the guest on his Twitter account.
Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations. @IsraeliPM #ShalomNamaste pic.twitter.com/sidgMmA1fu
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018
Israeli PM Netanyahu responded with a thank you tweet.
We have landed in India. Thank you to my good friend Narendra Modi for the warm welcome! https://t.co/mLsGxZT1E7
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) January 14, 2018
PM Modi will host a private dinner for Netanyahu on Sunday. PM Netanyahu will call on External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj, later on the same day.
On Monday, he will be given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan following which he would lay a wreath at Rajghat.
He would then participate in a dialogue at Hyderabad House which will also include a one-on-one discussion with Modi.
PM Modi will hold talks with his Israeli counterpart on Monday covering entire expanse of the ties and explore new areas of cooperation to further deepen the “very very special relationship”. After the signing of agreements, they will issue a joint press statement.
Israeli PM Netanyahu will call on President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu later on Monday.