NEW DELHI: Benjamin Netanyahu hailed a “new era” in ties with India onMonday as he signed a series of deals during the first visit by an IsraeliPrime Minister in 15 years.
Netanyahu made the comment after talks with Narendra Modi, who made historyin July when he became the first Indian leader ever to visit Israel.
He is accompanied by the largest-ever business delegation to travel with anIsraeli leader, including technology, agriculture and defence executives.
The two men embraced warmly, appearing to overcome any tensions overIndia’s refusal to support US moves to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’scapital, before signing agreements on cybersecurity and energy.
“We are ushering today a new era in our relations,” Netanyahu said aftertheir talks.
“We have had diplomatic relations for 25 years, but something different ishappening now because of your leadership and our partnership.”
Earlier, Netanyahu said he was “disappointed” by India’s decision to votefor a resolution at the UN General Assembly opposing the US recognition ofJerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Israel is already a major weapons supplier to India, exporting $1 billionof military equipment annually.
Earlier this month India announced it would buy 131 surface-to-air missilesfrom Israel for its first domestically made aircraft carrier.
But New Delhi needs to balance closer ties with Israel with its historicsupport for the Palestinian cause.
Dozens gathered near the Israel embassy to protest at Netanyahu’s visit onMonday.
Modi also wants to end India’s status as the world’s top defence importerand encourage foreign companies to transfer their technology to local firmsto create much-needed jobs.
India has already cancelled a $500 million deal to buy Israeli Spikeanti-tank missiles after apparently deciding to manufacture the equipmentat home.
On Monday Modi said he had invited Israeli defence companies “to takeadvantage of the liberalised FDI (foreign direct investment) regime to makemore in India with our companies”.
Netanyahu is the first Israeli leader to visit India since Ariel Sharon’strip in 2003.
On Tuesday he will visit the Taj Mahal and travel to Modi’s home state ofGujarat before heading to Mumbai where the majority of India’s estimated4,500 Jews live.
There, he will make an emotional visit to a Jewish centre targeted in the2008 Mumbai attacks.
Netanyahu is accompanied by 11-year-old Moshe Holtzberg, whose parents wereamong 166 people killed.
While in Mumbai he will also host a party for Bollywood producers where hewill trumpet Israel as a filming location.
India said it was sending a delegation to Israel next month for talks on afree trade agreement.
The two countries have been negotiating the agreement since 2006 with afocus on information technology, biotechnology, and agriculture.
Trade between India and Israel rose to $5 billion in 2016-17 from $4.91billion in the previous fiscal year.