New Delhi [India], November 4 (ANI): On his first official visit to India, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar hailed India as a “global superpower” and emphasized Israel’s goal of building a long-term strategic partnership with New Delhi. He made the remarks during his meeting with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar at Hyderabad House in the national capital on Tuesday.
“I believe that India is the future. India is the world’s largest democracy and the fastest-growing economy. India is a global superpower. Israel is a regional powerhouse. Our nations already share a warm friendship. Our goal is to build a long-term strategic partnership between Israel and India,” Sa’ar said.
Expressing gratitude for India’s solidarity, Sa’ar noted, “We remember that EAM Jaishankar was the first world leader to call Prime Minister Netanyahu after the Hamas October 7 massacre, and we won’t forget it.”
Condemning the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, he highlighted the shared security challenges faced by both nations. “Radical terror is a mutual threat to Israel and India. We strongly condemn the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam. In the Middle East, Israel faces a unique phenomenon I call ‘terror states.’ The radical terror states of Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Houthis in Yemen have established themselves over the past decades. Uprooting them is necessary for the security and stability of our region,” Sa’ar added.
Addressing the Gaza situation, he said, “The eradication of Hamas’ terror state is at the heart of President Trump’s plan. Hamas must be disarmed, and Gaza must be demilitarized. We will not compromise on it.”
Sa’ar also expressed optimism about deepening regional cooperation through initiatives such as the I2U2 and India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), saying, “Israel supports regional connectivity projects to promote links between South Asia, West Asia, and Europe.”
Following the talks, EAM Jaishankar described the meeting as “excellent” and reaffirmed the shared stance against terrorism. “Productive discussions on strengthening our Strategic Partnership across various domains. Reaffirmed our zero tolerance towards terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Appreciate FM Sa’ar sharing the Israeli perspective on developments in the region, the Gaza Peace Plan, and efforts to build a durable and lasting solution,” Jaishankar posted on X.
Jaishankar also witnessed the exchange of an MoU on Training between India’s Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS) and Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The EAM reaffirmed that India and Israel share a relationship built on “a high degree of trust and reliability.” He emphasized that the partnership had stood the test of time and continues to expand across multiple sectors.
During his visit, Sa’ar also paid floral tributes at Teen Murti Haifa Chowk and met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, where the two discussed cooperation in counterterrorism and other strategic areas. “We’re building a long-term strategic partnership between Israel and India,” Sa’ar said in a post on X after the meeting.
India and Israel signed a Bilateral Investment Agreement in September 2025, expected to enhance bilateral investments—currently around USD 800 million—and boost economic and technological collaboration between the two countries. (ANI)
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