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BILATERAL RELATIONS

INDIA-ISRAEL terrorists, terror organisations, those
who sponsor, encourage or finance
Bilateral relations scaling new heights terrorism or provide sanctuary to
terrorists and terror groups”.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cooperation in key areas, including The two leaders decided that the
visit to India from 14 to 19 January cybersecurity and energy. next meeting of the Joint Working
2018 closes a momentous twenty fifth In defence, India has invited Israeli Groups on Homeland and Public
anniversary year of India-Israel companies to take advantage of the Security will be held in February 2018,
relationship and its growing liberalised FDI regime to make more in and the two countries reiterated the
partnership. The summit level India with our companies. The mutual importance of building comprehensive
meetings between India and Israel that discussions were marked by cooperation in counter-terrorism,
commenced with Prime Minister convergence to accelerate including cyber-space, and welcomed
Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Israel development and scale partnership. the signing of the MoU on
from 4 to 6 July 2017, have further Presently, FDI in defence is allowed Cooperation in Cyber Security
strengthened the bonds between the up to 49 per cent through the between India and Israel.
two governments and peoples and automatic route, while government There was a noticeable difference
have consolidated the foundation for nod is required for 100 per cent foreign compared to the joint statement issued
their Strategic Partnership. investment. Recently, the government during Modi’s visit to Israel in July
The two Prime Ministers share a has allowed 100 per cent FDI in single- 2017. While last year, both leaders
common vision for the relationship. brand retail in a bid to ease business. committed to cooperate for the early
They believe that in the next twenty- According to the joint statement, adoption of the Comprehensive
five years the two respective countries both Prime Ministers noted that Israeli Convention on International Terrorism
should strive to raise bilateral companies were ready to start joint (CCIT), this time, there was no such
cooperation in diverse sectors to a ventures with Indian companies in the reiteration.
qualitatively new level in consonance defence sector under the Make in India On the Palestine issue, the joint
with our Strategic Partnership. initiative. They consider it important statement said that the two Prime
Within hours of Israeli Prime to set the direction for developing Ministers discussed developments
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu landing more business models and pertaining to the Israeli-Palestinian
at the airport, where he was received partnerships for the joint ventures and Peace Process. They reaffirmed their
by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the joint manufacturing, including transfer support for an early resumption of
visiting leader called him “my good of technology as well as joint research peace talks between Israelis and
friend” and said that they would and development in defence and Palestinians for arriving at a
together bring relations between the security fields. comprehensive negotiated solution on
two countries to “new heights”. As the two sides discussed all outstanding issues, based on
Netanyahu’s visit to India is only security cooperation, they ventured mutual recognition and effective
the second one by an Israeli prime into cyber security – which has so far security arrangements, for
minister and comes after a gap of 15 remained an area of cooperation establishing a just and durable peace
years. Former prime minister Ariel between Israel’s and Indian private in the region. However, there was a
Sharon visited India in 2003. firms. This is the first time there will reference to “early resumption of
Netanyahu visited Delhi, Agra, Gujarat be cooperation at the government level peace talks” – a key area of concern in
and Mumbai and was accompanied by – between top cyber security agencies the international fraternity. India had
Modi on extensive portions of his visit of the two countries. This assumes last month joined 127 other countries
PM Modi invites Israel to invest in significance since many cyber attacks to vote in the UN in favour of a
defence in India have originated from China, resolution opposing the recent
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held Iran and North Korea among other decision of the US to recognise
delegation-level talks with his Israeli countries. Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Stressing that terrorism posed a Describing their talks as “wide-
15th January and invited Israel firms grave threat to peace and security ranging and intensive”, Modi said
to take advantage of the liberalised including from non-state actors, the they reviewed the progress in the
FDI regime in the defence sector to two leaders reiterated that there can bilateral relations and agreed that “the
make in India. Netanyahu called Modi be “no justification for acts of terror possibilities and the opportunities”
a “revolutionary” leader as the two on any grounds whatsoever and that beckon the two countries need to
nations inked nine pacts to boost advocated strong measures against be seized.

44 Competition Wizard March 2018