WhatsappIn a visit heavy with symbolism and strategic weight, Narendra Modi arrived at the Knesset on Wednesday alongside Benjamin Netanyahu, marking a defining moment in the growing alliance between India and Israel.
Modi, the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Knesset, framed the relationship not merely as diplomatic cooperation, but as a partnership rooted in shared civilizational values. In the Knesset’s guest book, he wrote that India and Israel share a deep commitment to freedom, pluralism, and the rule of law — principles he described as the foundation of a strong and enduring partnership between the two peoples.
He pledged that the two nations would continue working together to promote peace, innovation, and prosperity, contributing to what he called a “just, fair and sustainable world.” It was the language of democratic solidarity — and of strategic convergence.
Netanyahu, speaking with characteristic intensity, placed the alliance within the broader regional struggle Israel now faces. “Israel is stronger than ever, and India is stronger than ever,” he declared. “Either the jihadist axis of evil will break us or we will break it. And we are breaking it and will break it, thanks to the heroism of our fighters.”
The Israeli Prime Minister underscored Modi’s early and unequivocal support following the October 7 Hamas massacre — a moment that tested global alliances. While much of the international community equivocated, India stood firmly alongside Israel.
“In a world where antisemitism is rising, India stands out,” Netanyahu told his counterpart. He praised India as a civilization in which Jews were never persecuted by the state but welcomed — a historical memory Israel does not forget.
Addressing Modi directly as a “dear friend,” Netanyahu expressed rare personal emotion, saying he had “never been more moved” by a diplomatic visit. The warmth between the two leaders reflects not just political alignment but personal rapport — a factor that has accelerated defense, technology, intelligence, and economic cooperation between the two powers.
Modi, in turn, delivered an unequivocal message. He expressed condolences for the victims of the October 7 massacre and the war that followed, stating that the response to terrorism must be one of zero tolerance.
“I carry with me the deepest condolences of the people of India for every life lost,” he said. “We feel your pain, we share your grief. India stands with Israel firmly with full conviction in this moment and beyond.”
He concluded his address with three words that resonated powerfully through the chamber: “Am Yisrael Chai.”
The visit underscored a geopolitical reality: as the global order shifts and ideological fault lines sharpen, the India–Israel alliance is no longer peripheral. It is strategic, ideological, and increasingly central to the architecture of the emerging world system.
