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PM Modi reached Israel on Wednesday. Today is the second day of the journey.
Today is the second day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel. At the beginning of the day, Prime Minister Modi will pay tribute to the murdered Jews at the Holocaust memorial ‘Yad Vashem’ in Jerusalem.
After this he will meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog, where bilateral relations and the regional situation will be discussed. A big defense deal can be signed between the two countries during this tour.
Before noon, Prime Minister Modi will hold delegation-level talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In this meeting, the focus is expected to be on partnership in the sectors of defense cooperation, missile defense system, cyber security and advanced technology.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived on a two-day visit to Israel on Wednesday. Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu received Modi at the airport. After this, PM Modi also addressed the Israeli Parliament Knesset. He was given the Parliament’s highest honor ‘Speaker of the Knesset Medal’. Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Knesset.
PM Modi’s Speaker Amir Ohana given the Israeli Parliament’s highest honor ‘Speaker of the Knesset Medal’.
‘Yad Vashem’ memorial built in memory of Jews killed during Hitler’s rule
Yad Vashem is built in memory of the millions of Jews killed during the Holocaust. This monument is located in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel and every year people from all over the world come here to understand the history and pay tribute.
During World War II, German dictator Adolf Hitler murdered approximately 6 million Jews. This massacre is called Holocaust. The Knesset, Israel’s parliament, decided in 1953 that a special memorial should be built in memory of those killed in the Holocaust.
Later in 2005, a modern museum was opened here, so that future generations can understand this tragedy. The Yad Vashem complex houses the Holocaust Museum, the Hall of Names, the Children’s Memorial, and the Righteous Among the Nations Garden. Original documents, photographs and personal stories of the victims have been preserved here.
The name Yad Vashem means memory and name, that is, may the memory of those who tried to be wiped out live forever.
Millions of Jews were killed in Germany between 1941 and 1945 during Hitler’s rule. This massacre is called Holocaust.
The museum of Israel’s ‘Yad Vashem’ contains memories related to those killed in the Holocaust. Their names and photographs have been posted here.
PM Modi’s schedule on 26th February (local time)… Around 9 am: PM Modi will visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial to pay tribute. Around 10:30 in the morning: Will hold formal meeting and bilateral talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. 11:30 am to 12:30 pm: There will be an important delegation level meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Around 12:45 pm: Agreements will be signed and a joint press statement will be issued between India and Israel. Around 1:15 pm: After concluding the official programme, PM Modi will leave for India.
What issues can be discussed
During the meeting, there can also be discussion on increasing cooperation in areas like Artificial Intelligence, Agricultural Technology and Water Management. There will also be discussion on furthering trade and investment.
After the talks, some important MoUs can be signed and a joint statement can be issued. New agreements in defense and technology sectors can strengthen India’s self-reliance and Make in India initiative.
During his program, Prime Minister Modi will also meet representatives of the Jewish community of Indian origin settled in Israel. This meeting is being considered an important step towards strengthening cultural relations and people-to-people ties. After the day’s programs the Prime Minister will leave for India.
Talks on FTA continue between India and Israel
Modi’s visit is taking place at a time when the first round of talks on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and Israel has started in New Delhi on 23 February 2026 and will continue till 26 February 2026.
In November 2025, both the countries had signed the Terms of Reference, which decided which issues would be discussed and how it would be taken forward. In the financial year 2024-25, the total goods trade between the two countries was 3.62 billion US dollars i.e. about 31 thousand crore rupees.
Both countries are beneficial to each other in many areas. This FTA will help in increasing trade between the two and provide greater confidence and stability to businesses, especially small and medium industries.
During this conversation, experts from both the countries are discussing different issues. These include issues like trade in goods and services, rules of origin, health and plant related rules, technical barriers to trade, custom processes, measures to ease trade and intellectual property rights.
Drone deal possible between India and Israel
PM Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister today. According to the BBC report, during this period, many major defense agreements including the purchase and joint manufacturing of drones can be agreed upon between India and Israel.
According to Forbes India, a defense agreement worth $8.6 billion is possible between the two countries in 2026. This may also include advanced drones along with precision guided bombs and missile systems.
According to reports, India is planning to buy Heron MK-2 MALE drone. This drone can fly continuously for 45 hours, can lift 470 kg load and can reach a height of 35 thousand feet.
Apart from this, discussions are also possible on issues like cooperation against terrorism, India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), trade and investment, advanced technology and innovation. However, no official announcement has been made yet regarding possible agreements.
There can also be talk on Iron Dome defense system
Israel can share the technology of its advanced air defense system Iron Dome with India. This information was given by Israel’s Consul General Yaniv Revach in an interview given to IANS in Mumbai. He said that talks regarding Iron Dome are also included in the agenda between the two countries.
He said that Israel is there to share this technology with India. Revach said the two countries already have a strong defense relationship. Now taking this forward, the focus will be on manufacturing military equipment in India.
Know the first day of the tour…
Netanyahu-Modi had a private conversation at the airport
While receiving Modi, on February 25, Modi and Netanyahu also had a private conversation at the airport in the capital Tel Aviv. After this he reached the hotel where the NRIs welcomed him. During this period the artists also gave performances. This is Modi’s second visit to Israel after 9 years. Earlier he had gone to Tel Aviv in July 2017.
5 big things about Modi’s address…
- Message from 140 crore Indians: On behalf of 140 crore Indians, I bring you a message of good wishes, friendship, respect and strong partnership.
- Jewish security: I can proudly say that the Jewish community in India has lived together without any fear, discrimination or oppression. He preserved his faith and participated fully in society.
- 2 thousand years old relationships: The relationship between India and Israel is more than 2 thousand years old. India is mentioned in the Book of Esther and our trade relations are mentioned in the Talmud.
- Terrorism: Killing of civilians cannot be justified for any reason. Terrorism is never justified. India has also suffered the pain of terrorism, hence our policy is clear and strict.
- Gaza Support: Support the UNSC-backed Gaza peace initiative. I am confident that this initiative can bring just and lasting peace in the region. India stands with you for dialogue, peace and stability.
2 big things about Netanyahu’s address…
- Jews in India: India is a civilization where Jews were never persecuted. Thanks to India, the Jewish community there has always been welcomed and respected.
- India-Israel relations: The relations between the two countries are not just diplomatic, but also related to the heart. The alliance between India and Israel increases the strength of both the countries manifold.
Yesterday’s tour in pictures…
Prime Minister Modi came to the hotel in the same car with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Netanyahu and Modi had a private conversation at Ben Gurion International Airport itself.
Israeli Parliament Speaker Amir Ohana welcomed PM Modi in Knesset in Hindi. He said welcome to Jerusalem.
PM Modi, Israeli PM Netanyahu, his wife and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana posed for a photo in the Israeli Parliament Knesset.
Questions raised on the timing of Modi’s visit to Israel
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs has raised questions regarding the timing of Modi’s visit to Israel. This visit is taking place at a time when tension between America and Iran is increasing in West Asia. America’s military activities have intensified.
In the committee meeting on Monday, some MPs raised questions as to how appropriate it is for the Prime Minister to visit Israel at a time when India has advised its citizens to leave Iran due to the threat of a possible US attack.
On this, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that all Prime Minister level visits are decided keeping security in mind, but he did not say whether the visit would be canceled if tensions increase.
The meeting was presided over by committee chairman Shashi Tharoor. Some MPs alleged that the government was giving too much importance to America’s influence in foreign policy and this could affect India’s strategic independence.
Modi is the only Indian PM to visit Israel
Modi is the only Indian Prime Minister so far to visit Israel. No Indian Prime Minister had visited Israel for 70 years. In 2017, Modi took this historic step and marked a new beginning in the relations between the two countries.
India recognized Israel in 1950, established diplomatic relations in 1992, but no Prime Minister-level visit took place. A major reason for this was India’s traditional pro-Palestine policy.
Modi’s first visit in July 2017 was described as ‘path-breaking’. During that time, agreements were signed between the two countries in sectors related to defence, agriculture, water management and technology.
India was once against becoming Israel
Even though today there is warmth in the relations between India and Israel, initially India was against the formation of Israel. India did not want Palestine to be divided and Israel to be created.
Mahatma Gandhi wrote in his weekly paper Harijan in 1938 that Palestine belongs to the Arabs as much as England belongs to the British and France to the French. He sympathized with the German atrocities against the Jews, but also said that the problems of any oppressed community cannot be solved by settling them on the land of another community.
In 1947, when the United Nations proposed to divide Palestine into two parts, the Jewish State (Israel) and the Arab State (Palestine), India opposed it. India believed that this partition was being done under external pressure and would not bring lasting peace.
Even after independence, India remained firm on its stand. In 1949, when Israel’s UN membership was voted on, India voted against it.
The policy of this period laid the foundation of India’s foreign policy. This is why in the early decades, India established itself as a supporter of Palestinian rights and a balancing country in the politics of West Asia.
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