Portrait of Isaac Herzog
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Isaac Herzog on Narendra Modi

Strong bilateral partner (strong)

TL;DR

Isaac Herzog views Narendra Modi as a crucial partner, emphasizing the deepening strategic ties between Israel and India for global good.

Key Points

  • The President expressed deep appreciation for Prime Minister Modi’s longstanding and steadfast support for the State of Israel during their February 2026 meeting.

  • He encouraged greater academic exchanges, specifically inviting brilliant young Indian students to study in Israel to promote innovation-driven growth.

  • During a joint event, he and the Prime Minister planted an oak tree in the garden of the President's Residence as a symbol of friendship and shared future.

Summary

Isaac Herzog views Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an essential partner in deepening the strategic relationship between Israel and India, a bond he believes can benefit the wider world. During Modi's second visit to Israel in February 2026, Herzog welcomed him warmly, emphasizing the friendship and the alliance with Israel’s story. He explicitly stated his belief that India is an essential part of the great future of the Middle East, and reciprocally, the Middle East is essential to India's future development trajectory. Both leaders reinforced their commitment to enhancing cooperation across various sectors during their meetings in Jerusalem.

The strengthening of bilateral ties focuses heavily on innovation-driven growth, with Herzog encouraging deeper collaboration between Indian and Israeli universities and research institutions. He specifically championed academic exchanges for brilliant young Indian students to study in Israel. The leaders marked their meeting by planting an oak tree together as a symbol of friendship and a shared future, while Modi also extended an invitation for Herzog to visit India, which the President accepted. This engagement highlights a shared focus on leveraging technological and academic expertise for mutual and regional benefit.

Key Quotes

“Prime Minister Modi, your visit to Israel is exciting the Israeli people with your friendship, with your honesty and frankness, and with the expression of compassion, and with the alliance with Israel and its story.

“The people of Israel and India are stronger together.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Isaac Herzog holds a very positive view of Narendra Modi, seeing him as a key figure in strengthening the strategic India-Israel partnership. He praises Modi’s commitment to Israel and views the relationship as vital for regional stability and global good.

President Isaac Herzog met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on Thursday, February 26, 2026, during Modi's state visit to Israel. They held both private and wider bilateral meetings.

The two leaders discussed strengthening ties across innovation, technology, academia, trade, and security, focusing on leveraging Israeli expertise in water management and agriculture for India. They also spoke about expanding regional partnerships like the IMEC initiative.