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ndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a standing ovation at Israel’s parliament on Wednesday, marking the start of a two-day visit aimed at deepening security, economic and technological cooperation between the two countries.

Modi addressed lawmakers at the Knesset, pledging “friendship, respect and partnership” at a time when Israel faces mounting international criticism over the genocide in Gaza. “Let us ensure that the friendship between India and Israel remains a source of strength in an uncertain world,” he said during a 30-minute speech that was warmly received by members of the governing coalition.

Modi was greeted at Ben Gurion Airport with a personal embrace from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who later introduced him to parliament as “Narendra, my dear friend.” The Knesset building in Jerusalem was illuminated in the colors of India’s flag on the eve of his arrival.

Following his address, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana awarded Modi a medal in recognition of his role in strengthening bilateral relations.

The visit underscores how much ties have grown under Modi, who in 2017 became the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel. Netanyahu reciprocated with a trip to India in 2018, cementing a partnership that has expanded significantly in recent years.

Expanding strategic cooperation between India and Israel

India and Israel established full diplomatic relations in 1992. Since then, defense and technology cooperation have become central pillars of the relationship. India is now Israel’s second-largest trading partner in Asia, with bilateral trade valued at $3.6 billion in the 2025 fiscal year, according to India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

During his speech, Modi emphasized collaboration in security, artificial intelligence, quantum technology and infrastructure development.

“We’re committed to expanding trade, strengthening investment flows and promoting joint infrastructure development,” he said.

Netanyahu praised Modi’s early and unequivocal support for Israel “You didn’t flinch. You didn’t waver. You stood by Israel,” Netanyahu said.

Modi reaffirmed India’s support for a U.S.-backed ceasefire framework for Gaza endorsed by the U.N. Security Council, describing it as a pathway to “a just and durable peace for all the people of the region, including the Palestine issue.”

However, he did not directly address Israel’s newly approved measures to deepen control over parts of the occupied West Bank — steps that India had joined more than 100 countries in condemning earlier this month.

India historically supported the Palestinian cause, but under Modi’s leadership, New Delhi has recalibrated its Middle East policy, strengthening ties with Israel while maintaining diplomatic engagement with Palestinian authorities.

A boost for Israel’s international standing

The visit also unfolded against the backdrop of domestic political tensions in Israel. Opposition lawmakers briefly walked out of the chamber during speeches by Netanyahu and Speaker Ohana, protesting the exclusion of Supreme Court Chief Justice Yitzhak Amit from the event. They returned for Modi’s address, with opposition leader Yair Lapid assuring the Indian leader that the protest was unrelated to his visit.

Netanyahu, currently on trial for corruption charges, has faced ongoing disputes over judicial reforms that have deeply divided Israeli society.

The high-profile visit is widely seen as a diplomatic boost for Israel as it navigates strained relations with some traditional allies over the Gaza genocide. Modi is scheduled to meet President Isaac Herzog and visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial before concluding his trip.

As Israel seeks to broaden its global partnerships, the public display of solidarity from India — one of the world’s largest economies and most populous nations — signals a deepening strategic alignment between the two governments.

(Source: The Associated Press)

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n a region fraught with conflict, the looming departure of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signifies a potential turning point for Israel, the Middle East, and beyond. Amidst ongoing hostilities in Gaza and escalating tensions in the West Bank, the prospect of a new leadership in Israel offers hope for renewed efforts towards peace and stability.

Following U.S. President Joe Biden’s recent State of the Union address on March 7th, wherein he announced plans for a maritime aid corridor off the coast of Gaza, expectations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas were high. However, despite intensive mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and the US, a ceasefire agreement remained elusive before the onset of Ramadan on March 11.

The failure to reach a ceasefire underscores the deep divisions between Hamas and Israel, raising concerns of further regional escalation. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, with over 500,000 people on the brink of famine and thousands killed or wounded in violence since October 7.

A maritime aid corridor from Cyprus

The announcement of a maritime aid corridor from Cyprus, coupled with plans for a U.S.-backed port project, underscores the urgent need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza. However, it also reflects the prolonged nature of the conflict and the challenges in securing a lasting ceasefire.

The imminent departure of Benjamin Netanyahu from office signals a significant shift in Israeli politics. Amidst growing impatience from the Biden administration and calls for change within Israel, Netanyahu’s leadership is being increasingly challenged.

Notably, Benny Gantz, a member of Netanyahu’s war cabinet, made an unprecedented visit to the U.S. last week, signaling a shift in US-Israel relations. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer’s call for Israeli elections to replace Netanyahu further underscores the mounting pressure on the current prime minister.

With three prominent figures within Netanyahu’s cabinet expressing intentions to challenge his leadership, and widespread public desire for change, Netanyahu’s departure seems inevitable. Polls indicate that around 75% of Israelis are eager to see him go, reflecting a broader sentiment for political renewal.

A transition in leadership

As Israel prepares for a transition in leadership, the international community must seize this pivotal moment to advance the cause of peace in the region. A new Israeli government, likely to be led by a former general, will seek US support in pursuing a path towards peace and security.

Crucially, any progress towards peace must be based on the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002, which envisions a sovereign Palestinian state alongside Israel. As Netanyahu’s tenure comes to an end, there is a renewed opportunity to reinvigorate the peace process and address the root causes of conflict in the Middle East.

While significant challenges lie ahead, the impending departure of Netanyahu offers a glimmer of hope for a region long plagued by violence and instability. As preparations for a new era in Israeli politics unfold, the international community must remain vigilant and proactive in supporting efforts for lasting peace and security in the Middle East.

Source: Chatham House

There are two things that are certain after Israel’s fourth election in two years: the first is that Benjamin Netanyahu will continue to be Israel’s Prime Minister. The second, that no Arab party will have any part in Netanyahu’s continued reign as PM. These elections had given an undeniable victory to Benjamin Netanyahu. In a strategy that can be seen as divide and rule, Netanyahu has been very successful at dividing his opposition and now he may rule over them as they come begging him for a piece of the pie.

One of the strangest misconceptions that has risen immediately after the results of the elections were announced is that Mansour Abbas, who leads the Islamic United Arab Party will somehow become “kingmaker.” They claim that his vote in the Knesset will tip the scales and that the next Israeli prime minister will be in his debt. This claim stems from a lack of appreciation for the racist Zionist ideology and how, like a thread, it runs through all of Israel’s Zionist political parties, left, right and center.

But who needs a king maker when the king, Benjamin Netanyahu sits on his throne comfortably and unchallenged? In the previous elections, one may recall Netanyahu did face a serious challenge and his decade long tenure seemed as though it was going to end. The President of the State of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, had given the official mandate to form a government to Netanyahu’s challenger, former IDF Chief Benny Gantz. Everyone was sure that Ganz would finally unseat Netanyahu, as he had promised to do in his campaign. He even had the numbers to do it.

However, Netanyahu managed to get Gantz to go back on his word to the voters. He agreed to sit in Netanyahu’s government even though this meant destroying the political coalition he had created, which included two other former IDF Chiefs, and the first real challenge to Netanyahu in a decade fizzled away. Gantz ended up working for Netanyahu as Defense Minister and his reputation and following practically disappeared.

He was promised that Netanyahu would vacate his seat when half of his term was over and that Ganz would be Prime Minister for the second half of their term, but really, no one believed that Netanyahu would follow through. In agreeing to sit in Netanyahu’s government Gantz sealed his fate to be a footnote in Israeli politics, and in this last election his party received only eight seats in the Knesset. This is after being a step away from the Premiership.

Netanyahu, having successfully destroyed any chance of another coalition being put together to unseat him now sits comfortably with thirty seats in the Knesset, followed by Yair Lapid’s party with 17 seats.

In the past, Gantz ran as leader of not only his own party but of a coalition of parties that agreed to follow him under the slogan of “No to Netanyahu.” It was that coalition that almost brought Netanyahu down. But it was disbanded when Gantz broke his promise. Netanyahu, having successfully destroyed any chance of another coalition being put together to unseat him now sits comfortably with thirty seats in the Knesset, followed by Yair Lapid’s party with 17 seats.

Today there are three religious Jewish parties who total 21 seats and they will gladly give their vote to Netanyahu. But there are other small parties, in fact most of the parties this time around have between six and eight seats and this gives Netanyahu the ability to play them against each other, something he does with great skill.

Few people expected that the United Arab Party, which broke away from the Joint Arab List, would even make the threshold required to get into the Knesset. However, they did manage to receive four seats and almost immediately news reports came out that they will be the ones to break the political logjam and provide Netanyahu the votes he needs to remain a PM. Others said that the party, led by Mansour Abbas, would be the tie breaker and may join the anti- Netanyahu block, allowing Yair Lapid to unseat Netanyahu.

Abbas then held a press conference where he gave a speech that was heralded as “historic.” However, the speech, which was given in Hebrew, was an uninspiring, colorless speech in which he said nothing significant. He did introduce himself as a Muslim, as an Arab and as a citizen of the State of Israel. Obviously aiming to please his Zionist listeners, he did not once mention the word Palestinian, or Palestine.

Mansour Abbas is a lackluster politician who until recently was unknown. He may be enjoying his moment in the limelight, but one might suggest to him that he should not get too comfortable. The limelight will pass quickly enough, and he will return to being ignored and invisible to the rest of the Israeli political world. Palestinian citizens of Israel have enormous problems: State sanctioned racism, the worst poverty rates among Israeli citizens, and at every step they are controlled by the Israeli secret police, the Shabak.

The Israeli Police sits idly by as drugs and weapons stolen from Israeli army stockpiles fill the streets of their cities. Year after year, gang wars take the lives of countless bystanders in the 1948 Palestinian cities. Palestinian casualties from accidents on constructions sites grow each year with no accountability and no end in sight, and there is a complete lack of development or planning for these fast-growing communities. Neglect by the state is part and parcel of the lives of the Palestinian citizens of Israel.

For decades Palestinians have tried to work within the Israeli political system. Some did so by joining the ruling parties. Others tried to get attention as opposition parties and for over seven decades tried to bring attention to the plight of these Palestinians who had the burden of Israeli citizenship – a citizenship that gives them few rights – imposed on them. But to no avail. They have failed not because of any fault of their own. The State failed them and will continue to do so. The State that took their lands and exiled their families and neighbors does not want them and does not care to solve their problems.

As we look forward, we shall see yet another Israeli government dedicated to destroying Palestine and its people led once again by Benjamin Netanyahu.