EAM Jaishankar's visit to Israel: EAM welcomes Israel as ISA's newest member- Know full details of visit here

Union External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar held productive talks with the Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel, Yair Lapid on October 18, 2021. Both the foreign ministers agreed on mutual recognition of the vaccination certificates. 

EAM S Jaishankar also thanked Israel for joining the International Solar Alliance as its newest member. The two Foreign Ministers also decided to resume negotiations on FTA (Free Trade Agreements) between the two countries as early as November 2021 with the hope that the agreement will be ready for signing by mid-2022.

Welcomed Israel as the newest member of @isolaralliance.

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 18, 2021

The foreign ministers of India, Israel, the United States and the United Arab Emirates are also scheduled to hold a virtual meeting today, triggering speculations over the formation of a second QUAD. 

The Foreign Ministers of Israel, United Arab Emirates, United States of America and India to hold a virtual meeting today.

— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2021

Key Highlights of EAM Jaishankar's Israel visit

•Dr. S. Jaishankar held productive talks with Foreign Affairs Minister Yair Lapid, which covered a wide range of regional and global issues. 

•The External Affairs Minister also paid homage to the victims of the Holocaust at Yad Vashem, stating that the memorial is a testimony to the human spirit of resilience and strengthens our resolve to fight evil.

Paid homage to the victims of the Holocaust at @yadvashem.

This memorial is a testimony to the human spirit of resilience and strengthens our resolve to fight evil. pic.twitter.com/s9Ficknvab

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 18, 2021

•He also unveiled a plaque commemorating the Bhoodan Grove planted by Sarvodaya workers in 1960. 

Started the day by unveiling a plaque commemorating the Bhoodan Grove planted by Sarvodaya workers in 1960.

India-Israel relations have many facets and many contributors. pic.twitter.com/PAHRiGKWls

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 18, 2021

•He also addressed the Indian Jewish Community and said that he was happy to be back here, amidst a land with which India has had ties for centuries.

Very pleased to meet the Indian Jewish community in Israel.

Valued their manifold contribution to India-Israel ties.

Confident that they will bring us even closer together in the coming years. pic.twitter.com/au0gFEGjsT

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 17, 2021

•The Minister expressed gratitude to the community for their manifold contribution to India-Israel ties and expressed confidence that they will bring us even closer together in the coming years.

•He also held a productive interaction with the Israeli chambers of commerce and the innovation ecosystem and appreciated their visible enthusiasm for doing more partnerships with India. He highlighted several natural areas of collaboration during the interaction including health, agriculture, green growth and digital. 

Encouraged Israeli businesses to focus more deeply on Indian opportunities. And take advantage of our business friendly policies.

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 17, 2021

•He also paid homage to the brave Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during World War I at the Indian Cemetery at Talpiot during his first engagement in Jerusalem.

Visited the Indian Cemetery at Talpiot as my first engagement in Jerusalem. Paid homage to the brave Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifie during World War I. pic.twitter.com/oIqWfnVlga

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 17, 2021

Background

India under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi had enjoyed an unprecedented relationship with former Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Both the nations had elevated their bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership during PM Modi's historic visit to Israel in July 2017. The relationship between the two countries has since then focused on collaboration in innovation and research, including boosting the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Modi government.