Synopsis: Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Benjamin Netanyahu for the comfortable majority in the Israeli general election win. And thanked Yair Lapid for India-Israel strategic partnership.
PM Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated Benjamin Netanyahu on his success in the Israeli general elections and on becoming the Prime Minister of Israel. PM Modi tweeted on his Twitter account, “Mazel Tov to my friend Netanyahu for your electoral success. I look forward to continuing our joint efforts to deepen the India-Israel strategic partnership”.
Benjamin Netanyahu, also affectionately known as Bibi, was elected Prime Minister of Israel after Yair Lapid defeated the far-right leader. Bibi’s party, Likud, and its allies won a clear majority and are set to form the government soon. Likud and its allies won 64 out of 120 seats in the Israeli parliament, or Knesset.
Prime Minister Yair Lapid conceded defeat in the general elections on Thursday and congratulated the opposition leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, whose coalition of right-wing parties secured a majority in parliament to form the next government and end the ongoing political deadlock in the country.
Yair Lapid said Israel is above any political consideration. I wish Netanyahu luck for the sake of the people of Israel and the state of Israel.
PM Modi also thanked Yair Lapid for giving priority to the India-Israel strategic partnership. He said I hope to continue our fruitful exchange of ideas for the mutual benefit of our people.
PM Modi published this same message in Hebrew on Twitter.
With Netanyahu’s return to the Knesset, the relationship between India and Israel will likely move upward. Benjamin Netanyahu is a strong supporter of strong bilateral ties with India and has become the second Indian to visit India in January 2018, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country in July 2017.
Israel has also supported India on initiatives such as the I2U2 Group of India, Israel, the US, and the United Arab Emirates; cooperation on the “Make in India” initiative; and discussions around the Free Trade Agreement ( FTA).
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