New Delhi: Israel foreign minister Eli Cohen, who on Tuesday arrived in India for a three-day official visit, announced that he is cutting short his India visit following the security situation in Israel. This comes after Israeli aircraft conducted strikes early Tuesday morning in the Gaza Strip killing 13 Palestinians including three Islamic Jihad movement militant commanders, six women and four children.
Taking to Twitter today, Cohen said, "I landed a short time ago in New Delhi, the capital of India, and immediately upon landing I received a security update. In light of the events in Israel, I decided to cut short the diplomatic visit to India and return to Israel after my meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that will take place today. ".
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נחתתי לפני זמן קצר בניו דלהי בירת הודו, ומיד עם נחיתתי קיבלתי עדכון ביטחוני.
— אלי כהן | Eli Cohen (@elicoh1) May 9, 2023 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
לאור האירועים בארץ, החלטתי לקצר את הביקור המדיני בהודו ולחזור לישראל לאחר פגישתי עם ראש ממשלת הודו נרנדרה מודי שתתקיים היום.
">נחתתי לפני זמן קצר בניו דלהי בירת הודו, ומיד עם נחיתתי קיבלתי עדכון ביטחוני.
— אלי כהן | Eli Cohen (@elicoh1) May 9, 2023
לאור האירועים בארץ, החלטתי לקצר את הביקור המדיני בהודו ולחזור לישראל לאחר פגישתי עם ראש ממשלת הודו נרנדרה מודי שתתקיים היום.נחתתי לפני זמן קצר בניו דלהי בירת הודו, ומיד עם נחיתתי קיבלתי עדכון ביטחוני.
— אלי כהן | Eli Cohen (@elicoh1) May 9, 2023
לאור האירועים בארץ, החלטתי לקצר את הביקור המדיני בהודו ולחזור לישראל לאחר פגישתי עם ראש ממשלת הודו נרנדרה מודי שתתקיים היום.
According to sources, Gaza militants fired several salvos of rockets toward southern Israel in the aftermath of death of prominent Palestinian hunger striker Khader Adnan in an Israeli prison. Israeli military responded with airstrikes leading to an escalation. The Israel Foreign minister landed in Delhi today morning.
This is his first official visit to India. Minister for External Affairs spokesman, Arindam Bagchi while confirming Cohen's arrival wrote in a tweet, "A warm welcome to FM @elicoh1 of Israel on his first official visit to India. Looking forward to the visit further strengthening the multifaceted India-Israel partnership”.
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A warm welcome to FM @elicoh1 of Israel on his first official visit to India.
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) May 9, 2023 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
Looking forward to the visit further strengthening the multifaceted 🇮🇳-🇮🇱 partnership. pic.twitter.com/3P3VwQEM1h
">A warm welcome to FM @elicoh1 of Israel on his first official visit to India.
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) May 9, 2023
Looking forward to the visit further strengthening the multifaceted 🇮🇳-🇮🇱 partnership. pic.twitter.com/3P3VwQEM1hA warm welcome to FM @elicoh1 of Israel on his first official visit to India.
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) May 9, 2023
Looking forward to the visit further strengthening the multifaceted 🇮🇳-🇮🇱 partnership. pic.twitter.com/3P3VwQEM1h
The Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen was also scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister Jaishankar today and discuss the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation, and regional and global issues of mutual interest. But the meeting is unlikely due to the security situation in Israel. His visit comes days after Israel's economy minister Nir Barkat and Knesset speaker Amir Ohana visited India earlier this year.
The primary objective of the visit is to bolster India-Israel ties in various areas including trade. Israel's foreign minister's visit also assumes significance as both countries celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations. This was to be the 2nd such visit by an Israeli delegation to India under the Netanyahu government.
Over the years, India and Israel have increased their cooperation in various sectors, especially trade and security. It is pertinent to note that Agriculture is another area of cooperation between India and Israel. The presence of Israel's Centre for International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MASHAV) in India gives a new boost to the bilateral ties between the two countries.
Many development projects have been initiated under MASHAV. In June 2022, MASHAV signed a joint declaration with the govt of Haryana in the field of integrated water resource management and capacity building. The visit by the foreign minister is expected to add new momentum to the already great relations between the two nations and will enhance technological cooperation, people to people ties.
PM Modi has congratulated his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and the people of Israel on their 75th anniversary of independence. EAM Jaishankar paid an official visit to Israel on Oct. in the year 2021.
