India Is One of the World’s Leading Superpowers: Israel

Darwin, November 5 — Praising its ally India, Israel has said that relations between the two countries are now stronger than ever, and that India has emerged as one of the world’s major superpowers. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar made these remarks in an exclusive interview with Indian news outlet NDTV on Tuesday.

He said, “We are continuously strengthening our relationship. We are grateful for India’s friendship.” Sa’ar added that Israel and India will soon sign a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation. “We are advancing in the fields of defense, agriculture, and economics, and we are eager to further strengthen our bilateral ties,” he said.

Expressing gratitude to New Delhi for quickly condemning the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Sa’ar said, “We will never forget that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first world leader to call Prime Minister Netanyahu on that horrific day. India stood by us, and we will always remember that.”

Regarding a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, Sa’ar said that under the current circumstances, the establishment of a Palestinian state that could threaten Israel’s security is not possible.

He stated, “We have learned from past mistakes, and we will not repeat them. The Trump peace plan is now the only realistic path forward.”

The Israeli defense minister said Israel’s goal is to destroy Hamas’s military capabilities and change the governance structure in Gaza. “Hamas is openly killing its opponents and spreading fear among the population. We want to end this terrorist rule,” he said.

He also noted that Israel and India share similar experiences in combating terrorism. “India has recognized groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba as terrorist organizations. We work closely together in intelligence sharing, technology, and defense. Israel has extensive experience in counterterrorism, and we are ready to share that with India,” Sa’ar stated.

He added that a new framework for defense and intelligence cooperation is being developed, turning the bilateral relationship into a truly strategic partnership. Toward the end of the interview, he said, “The relationship between Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Netanyahu is very open and strategic. I hope they will meet soon. India is a symbol of the future, and Israel is a regional power. Together, we can achieve great things.”

Sa’ar also announced that Israel will send a high-level delegation to India’s upcoming Artificial Intelligence Conference next year.

Source: NDTV