Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to sign multiple strategic agreements on Wednesday, with the focus on security, defence, water and other fields. The two have meetings scheduled with other Israeli leaders, after which they are scheduled to make a joint statement against terrorism.
Defence deals will likely dominate discussions. The Barak-8 air defence system, which the two countries built together, is expected to feature in the pacts the leaders will ink. India is Israel’s largest customer for military equipment, while Israel is India’s fourth largest supplier of arsenal.
Netanyahu gave Modi a grand welcome on his arrival in Jerusalem on Tuesday. He announced a U$40 million (around Rs 26 crore) Innovation Fund for greater India-Israel cooperation in technology, saying Israel would give importance to a “Make with India” policy.
“Common objectives of economic prosperity, strong technology and innovation ties and the need to secure our societies define the space for convergent action between us,” Modi had said. “Our focus on using technology and innovation to meet our development priorities provides productive scope to expand academic, scientific research and business links.”
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