00:36His Excellency, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, His Excellency, Mr. Aamir Ohana, speaker of the message.
00:56His Excellency, Mr. Aamir Lapid, leader of opposition, honorable members of the cadets, my dear sisters
01:12and brothers. Shalom. Namaste.
01:26Honorable members, it is a privilege
01:33and an honor for me to stand before this distinguished house.
01:43I do so as the Prime Minister of India and also as a representative of one ancient civilization
01:58addressing another. I bring with me the greetings of 1.4 billion Indians
02:13and a message of friendship, respect and partnership.
02:25I thank you, Mr. Speaker, for your kind invitation and for your wonderful gesture of lighting
02:41up the Knesset in Indian colors. Your visit to India three years ago was the first by a speaker
02:55of the Knesset. And thanks to you, I'm the first Prime Minister of India to address this August
03:05gathering. Nine years ago, I had the good fortune to be the first Prime Minister of India to visit Israel.
03:23And I'm very happy to be the first Prime Minister of India. And I'm very happy to be here again,
03:29returning to a land to which I've always felt drawn. After all,
03:38I was born on the same day that India formally recognized Israel, September 17, 1950.
04:03Honourable Members, I also carry with me the deepest condolences of the people of India for every
04:18every life lost and for every family whose world was shattered in the barbaric terrorist attack by Hamas on October
04:347.
04:37We feel your pain. We share your grief.
04:47India stands with Israel firmly with full conviction in this moment and beyond.
05:27No cause can justify the murder of civilians. Nothing can justify terrorism.
05:40India has also endured the pain of terrorism for a long time. We remember the 2611 Mumbai attacks and the
05:58innocent lives lost including Israeli citizens.
06:04Americans like you. We have consistent and uncompromising policy of zero tolerance for terrorism with no double standards.
06:27terrorism aims to destabilize societies, to block development and to erode trust.
06:41countering terrorism requires sustained and coordinated global action because terror anywhere threatens peace everywhere.
07:00That is why India supports all efforts that contribute to durable peace and regional stability.
07:16Some years ago, when you concluded the Abraham Accords, we applauded your courage and vision.
07:33It was a moment of new hope for a long troubled region.
07:43Since then, the situation has changed significantly.
07:51The path is even more challenging. Yet, it is important to sustain that hope.
08:06The Gaza peace initiative that was endorsed by the UN Security Council offers a pathway.
08:20India has expressed its firm support for the initiative.
08:27We believe that it holds the promise of a just and durable peace for all the people of the region,
08:42including by addressing the Palestine issue.
08:50Let all our efforts be guided by wisdom, courage and humanity.
08:58The road to peace is not always easy, but India joins you and the world for dialogue, peace and stability
09:17in this region.
09:22In India, there is a great admiration for Israel's resolve, courage and achievements.
09:38Long before we related to each other, as modern states, we were linked by ties that go back
09:51more than 2,000 years.
09:56The book of Esther refers to India as Hodu.
10:02The Talmud records trade with India in ancient times.
10:11Jewish merchants travelled across sea routes that connected the Mediterranean with the Indian
10:21ocean.
10:23They came seeking opportunity and dignity.
10:29And in India, they became one of us.
10:36Jewish communities have lived in India without fear of persecution or discrimination.
10:48They have preserved their faiths and participated fully in society.
10:58That record is a source of pride for us, honourable members.
11:06The Bene Israel of Maharashtra, the Cochini Jews of Kerala, the Baghdadi Jews of Kolkata and
11:18Mumbai, and the Bene Manasseh of the Northeast have enriched India.
11:26India.
11:27In my home state, Gujaramat, there is a school set up by a Bene Israeli family, Mr. and Mrs.
11:39Best.
11:40It is an excellent school, and of course, it is called the best school.
11:56Edwin Myers gave shape to the film's division of India and was towering figure in the history
12:08of Indian cinema.
12:10Dr. Ruben David was the founder of the Kangariya Jew in Ahmedabad.
12:19The actor, David Abraham Chowdkar or Uncle David, became a household name across the country.
12:35Walter Kaufman composed the signature tune for All India Radio.
12:44David Sassoon built many institutions that still serve Indian society.
12:53And of course, the heroic contribution of Lieutenant General J.F.R.
13:03Jacob during the 1970 war with Pakistan is widely known.
13:18I had the honor of working closely with him after his retirement.
13:26We discussed India-Israel relations among many other things over many cups of tea.
13:36There have been countless others whose contributions are woven into India's rich fabric of life.
13:51Honourable members, there was movement from India to Israel too, when many Indian Jews migrated to Israel in the mid
14:08-20th century.
14:10Today, a vibrant Indian-origin Jewish community lives here.
14:18They are contributed to the building of modern Israel in laboratories and hospitals, in classrooms and also on the battlefield.
14:35They hold firmly that Israel is their fatherland and India their motherland.
14:57We are proud of them.
15:01Honourable members, India's connection to this land is also written in blood and sacrifice.
15:16During the First World War, more than 4,000 Indian soldiers laid down their lives in this region.
15:28The cavalry charge at Haifa in September 1918 remains a significant chapter in military history.
15:47Major Thakur Dalpat Singh remembered that the hero of Haifa symbolized the shared history.
16:01During my last visit, I was deeply moved to pay my respect at the Haifa Memorial for Indian soldiers.
16:15Honourable members, Honourable members, last month, the world marked the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
16:28The Holocaust stands as one of humanity's darkest chapters.
16:38Yet, even in those turbulent years, some acts of humanity stood out.
16:50The Maharaja of Navanagar in Gujarat, also known as the Jam Sahib,
17:03offered refuse to Polish children, including Jewish children, who had nowhere else to turn.
17:13I am told that a statue of Jam Sahib was unveiled in Mosha on Nevatim recently.
17:29Thank you for this honour and remembrance.
17:35Honourable members, after India's independence, many Indian leaders felt a kinship with the people of Israel.
17:52India's parliamentary debates of the 1950s are witness to their admiration for Israel's effort to develop agriculture in the desert.
18:08The kibbutz movement of Israel inspired our leaders like Acharya Vinova Bhave and Lopanaya Jai Prakash Narayan.
18:22First in my home state, Gujarat, and now across India, I have seen the approach of per drop, more crop,
18:36work wonders in agriculture.
18:40My own first visit to Israel was in 2006 at the chief minister of Gujarat.
18:48Later in 2017, during my visit to Israel as prime minister, our two countries elevated the relationship to a strategic
19:01partnership.
19:02Since then, our engagement has expanded in scale and scope, and we are committed to further consolidate this relationship across
19:24many sectors.
19:30Honourable members, for the last few years, India has been the fastest growing major economy in the world.
19:45Soon, we will be among the top three economies globally.
19:59At the same time, Israel is a powerhouse of innovation and technological leadership.
20:15This creates a natural foundation for our forward-looking partnership.
20:23We are committed to expanding trade, strengthening investment flows, and promoting joint infrastructure development.
20:36The bilateral investment treaty signed last year will provide confidence and productivity to our businesses.
20:50In the last few years, India has concluded a number of important trade agreements with other nations.
21:02To your west, the European Union and the UK.
21:09To your east, the UAE and Oman.
21:14However, our bilateral goods trade has grown significantly in recent years, but it does not reflect the full scope of
21:29opportunity.
21:30That is why our teams are working hard to negotiate an ambitious free trade agreement.
21:40It will unlock the vast untapped potential in our trade relationship.
21:48We will also work closely in different forms such as India, Middle East, Europe Economic Corridor and the I2-U2
22:07framework between India, Israel, UAE and the US.
22:13Defense and security is another important pillar of our partnership.
22:21In November last year, we signed an MOU on defense cooperation.
22:28In today's uncentred world, a strong defense partnership between trusted partners like India and Israel is of vital importance.
22:45For our partners, honorable members, honorable members, Israel is often called the startup nation.
22:55In recent years, we have also been working to unlock the innovation and creativity of our youth.
23:06I recall that in 2018, Prime Minister Netanyahu and I inaugurated the I-Create Technology Business Incubator in India.
23:24Since then, it has supported nearly 900 such startups.
23:31Last week, we hosted the world's largest and the most democratized AI Impact Summit with representatives from over 100 countries.
23:49Our aspirational spirit aligns naturally with Israel's innovation ecosystem.
23:58I see a lot of synergies in areas such as quantum technologies, semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
24:14We are also working with Israel on creating cross-border financial linkages using our digital public infrastructure.
24:30Honorable members, I mentioned how inspiring we found Israel's agricultural miracle in deserts.
24:45Israeli expertise in precision irrigation and water management has already transformed agricultural practices in India.
25:00Together, we have established 43 centres of excellence across India that have provided training to more than half a million
25:15farmers.
25:17We should now set an ambitious goal to expand to 100 centres to benefit millions of farmers and fishermen.
25:30Honorable members, at the heart of the India-Israel partnership are the ties between our peoples.
25:39When I first visited Israel in 2006, there were a handful of yoga centres in Israel.
25:50Today, yoga seems to be practised in almost every neighbourhood.
25:57I am told that interest…
26:05I am told that interest…
26:08I am told that interest in Ayurved is also growing in Israel.
26:12I invite more and more young Israelis to travel to India.
26:25They will witness the dynamism of our society and experience what holistic wellness can do for the body and the
26:40mind.
26:41I am happy to inform this august house that the Indian parliament has set up a parliamentary frenzy group for
26:53Israel.
26:55I invite you all to visit India and look forward to having more exchanges between members of parliament.
27:15I am aware that Indian caregivers and skilled workers in Israel contribute immensely to families and communities.
27:29They have displayed remarkable courage and dedication in times of crisis, including on October 7.
27:43We are proud of them.
27:53As the Jewish teachings reminds us, whoever saves one life, saves the entire world.
28:08Their service reflects the strength of the human bonds behind our cooperation.
28:17We will continue to facilitate the movement of workers and professionals across sectors that benefit both of our nations.
28:32Honourable members, we are both ancient civilizations.
28:44And it is perhaps no surprise that our civilizational traditions also reveal philosophical parallels.
28:57In Israel, the principle of Tikkun Olam speaks of healing the world.
29:11In India, Vasudhaev Kutum Kam affirms that the world is one family.
29:20Both ideas extend responsibility beyond immediate boundaries.
29:31They ask societies to act with compassion and moral courage.
29:42Judaism emphasizes harakha, guiding everyday conduct through law and practice.
29:54Hindu philosophy speaks of dharma, the moral order that shapes duty and right action.
30:05In both traditions, ethical life is lived through action and faith is expressed through conduct.
30:18There is an enduring similarity in our festivals as well.
30:25You celebrate Hanukkah with the warm glow of candles.
30:32You celebrate Hanukkah with the warm glow of candles.
30:34Around the same time, we celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights with the gentle radiance of lamps.
30:47Soon, India will celebrate the festival of holy filled with happiness and colour.
30:58And around the same time, Israel will also celebrate Purim with enthusiasm and joy.
31:16Honourable members, our shared ideals are the deep foundations that give strength to our modern partnership.
31:28We are democracies shaped by history and focus on the future.
31:39Our partnership is grounded in shared experience and shared aspirations.
31:48Our strong partnership not only serves national interests, but also contributes to global stability and prosperity.
32:04Let us ensure that the friendship between India and Israel remains a source of strength in an uncertain world.
32:17Aam Israel Khai.
32:30Aam Israel Khai.
32:31Jai Hin.
32:36Thank you very much.
33:07חברות וחברי הכנסת, אני מתכבד להעניק לראשונה בית הולדות המשכן את איתור הכנסת,
33:16עוד הכבוד הגבוה ביותר שבית המחוקקים הישראלי העניק לראש ממשלת הרפובליקה של הודו, נרנדרה מודי,
33:26כהוקרה על הובלתו האישית לחיזוק היחסים המדיניים בין עוד ולבין ישראל ועל תרומתו להעמקת שיתופי הפעולה בתחומי הביטחון,
33:38הכלכלה, החקלאות, החדשנות, הטכנולוגיה ועוד.
33:42מנהיגותו, כפי שיכולתם להתרשם כולכם, מבטאת ידידות אמיצה ומחויבות לשותפות ארוכת טווח,
33:50המבוססת על ערכים משותפים ואינטרסים משותפים בין שתי המדינות.
33:55בבקשה, אדוני.
33:57תודה רבה.
34:27כבוד יושב ראש הכנסת וכבוד ראש ממשלת הודו.
Comments