Modi Becomes First Indian Prime Minister to Visit Israel

India’s prime minister from the nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Narendra Modi, has become the first Indian premier to visit Israel.

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Modi met his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv at the start of his three-day trip.

They are set to expected to agreed military and cyber security deals.

The visit comes in the wake of a US$2-billion arms deal signed between the two nations in recent weeks.

While several governments have broken off ties with Israel in support of Palestinian statehood, India and Israel have maintained diplomatic relations for 25 years.

Since Modi came to power in 2014, their relationship has strengthened further.

India is the world's biggest importer of defense equipment and Israel has become one of its major suppliers.

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In recent years, the two nations have strategized on “counterterrorism” efforts.

Modi said India and the Israeli state share a "deep and centuries-old" connection, while Netanyahu called Modi's visit "historic."

The Indian Prime Minister is not scheduled to travel to Ramallah or meet any Palestinian leaders during his trip.

When Netanyahu visited India last November, he was greeted by protests in the capital New Delhi, organized by groups who denounced what they described as the “Israeli oppression of the Palestinian people.”