JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesdayduring a tour of India he had been informed by the Indian government thatit had decided to put a major anti-tank missile deal back on track.India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart BenjaminNetanyahu walk during their visit to Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad, India,January 17, 2018. REUTERS/Amit Dave
There was no immediate comment from Indian authorities.
Earlier this month, Israel’s state-owned defence contractor Rafael saidIndia’s Ministry of Defence had cancelled the deal worth about $500 millionto buy Spike anti-tank guided missiles.
“Following talks I have held with my friend, Indian Prime Minister NarendraModi, the Indian government has informed us that it is putting the Spikedeal back on track. This is very important and there will be many moredeals,” Netanyahu said in a brief video statement during his five-day visitto India.
There were no additional details of how the deal might be consummated butIsrael’s Channel 1 television said the original half-billion-dollar valuewould be cut in half.
Netanyahu is making the first visit by an Israeli prime minister to Indiafor 15 years and Modi’s nationalist government has rolled out the redcarpet, regarding Israel as an ally in the fight against terrorism.
Netanyahu and Modi have pledged to deepen economic and security ties in amore open embrace of the relationship which New Delhi had long kept at alow profile, largely for fear of upsetting Arab nations on which it dependsfor oil.
Israel has given initial approval for Indian energy companies to exploreoil and gas in the eastern Mediterranean. Bilateral trade has jumped from$200 million in 1992, when the two countries opened diplomatic relations,to $4.16 billion in 2016, largely in favour of Israel.
Israel has emerged as one of India’s biggest suppliers of weapons alongsidethe United States and long-term partner Russia. Last year, Modi made afirst trip to Israel by an Indian prime minister ever.