PM Modi departs for Israel, to become first Indian PM to address Knesset

Prime Minister Narendra Modi departs for Tel Aviv on a two-day state visit to Israel on February 25, 2026. Photo: YouTube/@NarendraModi via PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Israel on a two-day visit from February 25, sources said on Monday (February 16, 2026). Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu first broke news of PM Modi’s visit while addressing the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations in Jerusalem on Sunday (February 15). “Parliament address on the anvil. Who’s coming here next week? Narendra Modi,” Mr. Netanyahu told the gathering.

Also Read | PM Modi’s Israel visit faces geopolitical headwinds

Over the course of the 24-hour visit from February 25 to 26, most of the engagements planned will see the leaders together. Mr. Netanyahu will receive PM Modi at the airport in Tel Aviv, as he did during the last visit in July 2017, and the two leaders are expected to travel together to Jerusalem. Apart from bilateral talks and press statements on Thursday (February 26), they will both attend PM Modi’s address to the Knesset, a private dinner, an innovation event, a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial museum and possibly a meeting with the diaspora in Israel, billed as an interaction with the “Indian-Jewish” community settled there.

PM Modi is likely to touch upon all issues of bilateral and regional interest during his two-day visit.

Also Read | An Israel visit — its strategic, economic, regional impact

This would be his second visit to Israel, the first being in July 2017, which was also the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister to the Jewish state. The high-profile visit of the Indian Prime Minister comes on the heels of several other high-level ministerial exchanges from both sides.

February 25, 2026 10:13

PM Modi emplanes for Israel, to become first Indian PM to address Knesset

February 25, 2026 09:42

Modi displaying 'moral cowardice' when world is critical of Netanyahu: Jairam Ramesh

The Congress on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his Israel visit, saying the PM will be displaying “moral cowardice” when the entire world is critical of his “dear friend” and Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said Prime Minister Modi is “brazenly embracing” his Israeli counterpart, who has reduced Gaza to rubble and dust and who is orchestrating the expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.

“On May 20, 1960, Jawaharlal Nehru was in Gaza and met with the Indian contingent of the U.N. Emergency Force there,” Mr. Ramesh recalled. “On November 29, 1981, India issued a commemorative postage stamp in solidarity with Palestine and on November 18, 1988, India formally recognised the state of Palestine,” he pointed out.

“That was a different era. Now the Indian Prime Minister is brazenly embracing the Prime Minister of Israel, who has reduced Gaza to rubble and dust and who is orchestrating the expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank,” Mr. Ramesh said on X.

- PTI

February 25, 2026 09:32

Honour of becoming the first Indian PM to address Knesset: PM Modi in his departure statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said India and Israel share a robust and multifaceted strategic partnership that has witnessed remarkable growth and dynamism, and he is looking forward to his discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Before embarking, PM Modi said he was confident that his visit would further consolidate the “enduring bonds” between India and Israel, set new goals for the strategic partnership, and advance the countries’ shared vision for a resilient, innovative, and prosperous future.

“I look forward to my discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu aimed at further strengthening our cooperation across various domains, including science and technology, innovation, agriculture, water management... defence and security, trade and investment, as well as people-to-people ties,” he said in his departure statement.

The Prime Minister said the two leaders will also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. “I will also have the honour of becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Israeli Parliament, Knesset, an occasion that would be a tribute to the strong parliamentary and democratic ties that bind our two nations,” he said.

PM Modi said he is looking forward to interacting with the members of the Indian diaspora who have long been nurturing the India-Israel friendship.

- PTI

February 25, 2026 09:24

Hope PM Modi mentions genocide in Gaza while addressing Knesset: Priyanka

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday (February 25, 2026) hoped Prime Minister Narendra Modi would mention the genocide in Gaza while addressing the Israeli Parliament and demand justice for them.

The Congress MP from Wayanad said India must continue to show the light of truth, peace and justice to the world.

In a post on X, Ms. Gandhi said, “I hope that the Hon Prime Minister @narendramodi ji mentions the genocide of thousands of innocent men, women and children in Gaza while addressing the Knesset on his upcoming trip to Israel and demands justice for them.”

Read the story here

February 25, 2026 09:01

Netanyahu says Israel 'tightening alliances' with allies, calls India 'gigantic power'

Describing India as a “gigantic power”, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel is “tightening alliances” with its allies, as he mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jerusalem next week.

Mr. Netanyahu made the comments while addressing the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Cadets’ Graduation Ceremony in Bahad 1 (IDF Officers School), about 190 kms south of Jerusalem, on Thursday (February 19).

“We will also act to tighten alliances with our allies. Next week, the Prime Minister of India will visit the country – a gigantic power,” Mr. Netanyahu said.

Read the story here

February 25, 2026 08:59

Congress slams PM’s Israel visit amid West Asia tensions

The Congress on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Israel, questioning the timing of the visit amid escalating tensions in West Asia.

Israel’s “dispossession and displacement of thousands of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank has intensified and drawn worldwide condemnation”, Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said in a post on social media platform X.

“Israel’s attacks on civilians in Gaza continue mercilessly. Israel and the United States were ‘planning air assaults on Iran’, Mr. Ramesh added.

“Yet the Prime Minister is going to Israel tomorrow to embrace his good friend Mr. Netanyahu,” Mr. Ramesh wrote, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Read the story here

February 25, 2026 08:55

Israel’s LoP requests Netanyahu to facilitate Opposition’s participation in Modi’s parliamentary address

Israel’s opposition has pleaded with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resolve the ongoing political crisis to ensure its participation during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the Knesset.

Mr. Modi will undertake a two-day visit to Israel beginning Wednesday to shore up bilateral defence and trade cooperation.

PM Modi’s engagements will include his address to Israel’s parliament (Knesset), wide-ranging talks with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and a meeting with President Isaac Herzog.

Israel’s opposition is demanding that the President of the Supreme Court of Israel, Yitzhak Amit, be invited to PM Modi’s address to the parliament, as per protocol, otherwise they will not attend the event.

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