Just like Sharon, Modi will visit Israel

Janjivan Bureau
New Delhi : Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon became the first premier to visit India in 2003.Now Narendra Modi to be the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel. The announcement was made by the country’s Foreign Minister, Sushma Swaraj. Dates are not confirmed.
Swaraj said she will also visit Israel, the Palestinian territories and Jordan later this year, and Modi will reportedly visit the Palestinian territories and meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as well.
“As far as my visit (to Israel) is concerned, it will take place this year. I will visit Israel, Palestine and Jordan,” said the minister, flanked by foreign secretary S Jaishankar and a posse of senior ministry officials in the audience. “As far as the Prime Minister’s visit is concerned, he will travel to Israel. No dates have been finalised. It will take place as per mutually convenient dates.”
The two countries that formalised full diplomatic ties in 1992 enjoy extensive economic, defence and strategic relations, while they share an annual trade volume of about $5 billion with India emerging as the largest buyer of Israeli military equipment.
Swaraj also said there will not be any talks with Pakistan under the shadow of terror and there was no decision on resuming cricketing ties, while the Teesta water- sharing pact was off the table during Modi’s visit to Bangladesh this month.
Sources say a foreign office consultation between New Delhi and Jerusalem is expected in July to thrash out the details of Swaraj’s visit, while Modi could travel to the West Asian nation in November when he will attend the G-20 summit in Turkey.
Ties between the two countries have been on the upswing under Modi who visited Israel in 2006 as chief minister of Gujarat to explore new ideas in agricultural technology.
Officials also indicated India was examining the possibility of the Prime Minister visiting Egypt and Palestine as well, though a final call will be made only after Swaraj completes her trip to the region.
There have been ministerial visits from India to Israel, with the latest one being home minister Rajnath Singh’s trip in November.