New Delhi: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu termed his country’s relations with India as a "marriage made in heaven" and asserted that just one negative vote at United Nations will not change the dynamics of the relations between the two nations.
Netanyahu, who arrived in India on Sunday for a historic six-day visit, chose to see the bigger picture. "I don't think one vote affects a general trend you can see in many other votes and everything and these visits," he said, when asked to comment on India's vote at UN against US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
He said that he was disappointed by India’s vote, but predicted the growing friendship to soon reflect in all UN votes soon. “This visit is a testimony that our relationship is moving on so many fronts, be it political, technological, tourism, security and so many other areas. Ultimately you see it reflected in all UN votes, not just now but soon," he added.
In December last year, India voted in favour of a resolution brought by Turkey and Yemen in the UN opposing the United States' decision recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The resolution was approved with 127-9 at the UN General Assembly.
"First of all there is a special relationship between the two countries, between their people and then between the leaders. The partnership between India and Israel is a marriage made in heaven but consecrated on earth," Netanyahu said, adding he respects his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi "as a great leader" because he is "impatient to bring future to his people".
Advocating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India to boost and deepen bilateral economic relations, he said: "Israel is changing so rapidly. We are creating industries. We have just created a car industry in just last five years. We have 500 start-ups dealing with automation of car.”
"And there are other areas like water, agriculture, energy, health, transportsation. There is a whole world that is erupting, exploding. Future belongs to those who innovate... Israel is an innovation nation. India has innovations. In Silicon Valley there are two dialects you hear - Hindi and Hebrew and only a little English."
He said that when he visited the iconic Teen Murti war memorial at Haifa circle, he felt "an expression of gratitude" because it was Indian soldiers who fell down while defending the city of Haifa (now in Israel) during WW-I. "It's closing of a circle 100 years later," he said.
In a sign of growing importance to the ties with Israel, the government on Sunday renamed Delhi's Teen Murti Chowk as Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk after the Israeli city.
Netanyahu is on a six-day visit to India, the first Israeli Premier to visit India after 2003 when Ariel Sharon came. Setting aside protocol, Modi went to personally receive Netanyahu.
(With agency inputs)
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