NEW DELHI – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday he was”disappointed” by India’s refusal to back recognition of Jerusalem as hiscountry’s capital but would not let it spoil his landmark visit to theAsian giant.
Netanyahu also vowed that Israel would “catch up” with the killers of aJewish couple murdered in 2008 attacks in Mumbai whose son is accompanyinghim on a six-day trip to India.
The Israeli leader arrived Sunday at the head of the biggest businessdelegation he has taken on a foreign visit.
Netanyahu told the India Today media group, in an interview releasedMonday, that he has a “special relationship” with his counterpart NarendraModi.
But the run-up was clouded by India joining more than 100 countries at theUnited Nations in voting last month to condemn Washington’s recognition ofJerusalem as Israel’s capital.
“Naturally I am disappointed but I think this visit is a testament to thefact that our relationship is moving forward on so many fronts,” Netanyahusaid in the interview.
Ahead of the visit, India also cancelled a $500 million deal for IsraeliSpike anti-tank missiles.
Israel exports an average of $1 billion of military equipment each year toIndia, but Modi wants to end India’s status as the world’s top defenceimporter.
But Netanyahu was again optimistic on the missile deal.
“I hope that this visit can help resolve this issue because I think thereis a reasonable chance we can reach an equitable solution,” he said.
Declaring that no details could be given until the end of his tour,Netanyahu added: “Our defence relationship is quite significant and itencompasses many things.
“I think the keyword is defence. We want to defend ourselves. We are notaggressive nations, but very committed to making sure that noone can commitaggression against us.”
Netanyahu is the first Israeli leader to visit India in 15 years.
The prime minister and his wife Sara were welcomed at New Delhi airport byModi, who made history in July when he became the first Indian leader tovisit Israel.
Modi also stressed how the “historic” visit would “further cement the closefriendship between our nations”.
Netanyahu expects to sign new agreements in energy, aviation and cinemaproduction. He is to visit the Taj Mahal and Modi’s home state of Gujaratas well as hold meetings with Bollywood stars in Mumbai.
But he will also make an emotional visit to a Jewish centre targeted in the2008 Mumbai attacks, a symbolic gesture to India’s tiny Jewish community.
Netanyahu is accompanied by 11-year-old Moshe Holtzberg whose parents wereamong 166 people killed by Pakistani militants in co-ordinated attacks onthe city.
“Ultimately we will catch up with the killers but the objective is also toprevent future killers,” Netanyahu said in the interview. – AFP