India and Israel are lining up a high-level meeting after a phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. Officials on both sides said the conversation was warm, and the two leaders agreed to meet soon.
Netanyahu’s office shared the update online, noting that the call ended with a decision to firm up dates for the long-pending visit. His trip to India has been in the works for more than a year but kept getting pushed back, especially after the Hamas attacks in October 2023. With a fragile ceasefire now holding in Gaza, both governments have been trying to find a suitable window, and the visit is now expected early next year.
Their conversation also touched on the broader strategic partnership. Over the past few months, several Israeli ministers — including those handling tourism, economy, agriculture, and finance — have travelled to India as both sides work toward a Free Trade Agreement. During these exchanges, the two countries signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty and later finalised the Terms of Reference needed to move the FTA forward.
Reports suggesting Netanyahu delayed his visit due to security concerns in Delhi were dismissed by Israeli officials, who said they have full confidence in India’s security agencies.
According to the Indian side, Modi and Netanyahu reviewed ongoing cooperation, discussed the situation in West Asia, and repeated their shared stance of zero tolerance toward terrorism. Modi also reiterated India’s support for efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace in the region, with an early rollout of the Gaza Peace Plan.
Both leaders said they would stay in touch as they work toward finalising the upcoming visit.
