Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel and India can shape a future together by combining the talents of people from both countries in a large variety of fields, including defense, cyber and technology.
Netanyahu, who is on a six-day visit to India, met privately with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and shared Israeli intelligence on terrorist cells operating on Indian soil.
Hundreds of Indian civilians have been killed in recent years in terrorist attacks carried out by Islamic groups operating on the subcontinent. Israeli intelligence indicates that the majority of these cells are affiliated with al-Qaida. There are also indications that numerous sleeper cells are waiting for orders to carry out terrorist attacks in major Indian cities.
Neighboring Bangladesh has become a hotbed of terrorist activity, and terror operatives from neighboring Pakistan are also active in India, especially in areas near the shared border.
"Israel shares intelligence with New Delhi as part of the war on terrorism," Netanyahu said.
He and Modi also discussed the Iranian threat, despite India's extensive strategic and economic ties with the Islamic republic.
Netanyahu commented on U.S. President Donald Trump's decision last week to waive nuclear sanctions on Iran for the last time to give the United States and European allies a final chance to amend the 2015 nuclear pact.
"This is probably the last chance to amend the deal," Netanyahu said.
Speaking with reporters after the meeting, he said, "A significant part of our meeting focused on Iran. I presented Iran's conduct, the threat it poses and the disruption it causes to the world and to the hegemony between Muslims."
In response to a question on whether he expects India to buy less oil from Iran, Netanyahu replied, "I would like to see all countries buy less oil from Iran."
Commenting on Israel's relations with India, Netanyahu said, "It is clear that we are upgrading relations and there is a personal connection as well, but that doesn't mean that India will be severing ties with Iran or Ramallah."
Netanyahu described his visit to India, which marks 25 years since the two nations established diplomatic ties, as "an expression of the Jewish people's return to the world stage" after having been "torn to pieces just a few decades ago."
Expanding trade ties
On Monday, Netanyahu attended the India-Israel Business Summit in New Delhi, where he was the keynote speaker alongside Modi.
Bilateral trade has jumped from $200 million in 1992 to $4 billion in 2016, largely in favor of Israel.
The two countries have grown closer since Modi took office in 2014, widening commercial cooperation beyond their longstanding defense ties.
Last summer, Modi became the first sitting Indian prime minister to visit Israel.
"What we can do together is shape the future," Netanyahu said at the conference.
"It is not something that I say offhand. I believe in India, deeply. I believe in India because I know your heritage, your culture, your ingenuity, your creativity, your humanity, your passion, which is exemplified by Prime Minister Modi, to change the world for the better. We are your partners and I came here to say today, Prime Minister Modi, thank you for believing in Israel the way we believe in India."
And Modi said, "India's development agenda is huge. It presents a vast economic opportunity for Israeli companies. I invite more and more Israeli people, business and companies to come and work in India. Along with the government and people, the business community of India, too, is keen to join hands."
As part of the efforts to expand the two nations' ties, Israeli and Indian officials signed nine bilateral cooperation agreements on Monday, in the fields of cybersecurity, oil and gas, space, science and technology, and film production.
