<p>Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in New Delhi this afternoon, six months after PM Modi&#39;s first-ever visit to Israel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>PM Modi broke protocol to receive the Israel PM and his wife Sara at the Delhi airport. Modi was of course just returning the gesture; he too had been received at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv by Netanyahu when he had visited Israel.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> LIVE: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in Delhi <a href="https://t.co/cmkFTRtPs7">https://t.co/cmkFTRtPs7</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/952450787396935681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Netanyahu is the second Israeli PM to visit India, the first one being Ariel Sharon, who was hosted by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in September 2003.</p>

<p>Netanyahu, who is here for a six-day visit and is&nbsp;accompanied by a 130-member delegation from various sectors, wrote on Twitter that his &quot;historic visit&quot;&nbsp;was a &quot;great blessing&quot; for Israel.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We will sign very many agreements. We are strengthening ties between Israel and this important global power.<br />
This serves our security, economic, trade and tourism interests, as well as many other areas. This is a great blessing for the State of Israel.</p>
&mdash; PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsraeliPM/status/952425017618386944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>They will then head to Teen Murti monument in Delhi where the two leaders will lay a wreath at the monument, commemorating the role of three Indian regiments who fought at the battle of Haifa over a century ago - and celebrate the growing friendship between the two countries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They will be joined by External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj later in the afternoon at the Taj Palace Hotel, where Netanyahu will be staying.</p>

<p>Modi will also host&nbsp;a private dinner for Netanyahu on Sunday.</p>

<p>The visiting dignitary, on Monday, will be given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan which will be followed by the wreath laying at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi.</p>

<p>Bilateral talks between the two prime ministers will take place on Monday. The primary focus will be on &quot;innovation&quot;&nbsp;-- covering trade, economy, agriculture, water management etc. Discussion on defence and security components are also expected to happen as they have been a strong part of India-Israel relations for a while.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Officials have informed that the two countries will possibly sign a number of pacts on startups and also issue a joint press statement. The Israeli Prime Minister will call on President Ram Nath Kovind later in the day.</p>

<p>On Tuesday, Netanyahu, along with his wife Sara, will leave for Agra to see Taj Mahal and then visit Delhi to participate in an annual multilateral conference, Raisina Dialogue, where he is scheduled to deliver an inaugural speech.</p>

<p>Netanyahu will leave for Ahmedabad on Wednesday to visit the Sabarmati Ashram and also attend an event at the International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (iCreate).</p>

<p>He will later visit the Centre of Excellence, Vadrad before leaving for Mumbai on the same day.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Thursday, Netanyahu will have a power breakfast with Indian CEOs and attend a business seminar in Mumbai. He will also lay a wreath at Taj Hotel and pay a visit to Nariman House - Chabad Centre.</p>

<p>Next, Netanyahu will hold talks with Bollywood personalities in an exclusive &quot;Shalom Bollywood&quot;&nbsp;event, that aims at exploring business opportunities for Indian filmmakers in Israel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There is cooperation on security issues between the two countries, including a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, the two countries had signed three vital agreements on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, Cooperation in Homeland Security, and Protection of Classified Material in February 2014.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from ANI)</em></p>


Bilateral talks will take place between the two PMs on Monday. The primary focus will be on innovation, defence and security

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in New Delhi this afternoon, six months after PM Modi's first-ever visit to Israel. PM Modi broke protocol to receive the Israel PM and his wife Sara at the Delhi airport. Modi was of course just returning the gesture; he too had been received at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv by Netanyahu when he had visited Israel. #WATCH LIVE: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in Delhi https://t.co/cmkFTRtPs7 — ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2018 × Netanyahu is the second Israeli PM to visit India, the first one being Ariel Sharon, who was hosted by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in September 2003. Netanyahu, who is here for a six-day visit and is accompanied by a 130-member delegation from various sectors, wrote on Twitter that his "historic visit" was a "great blessing" for Israel. We will sign very many agreements. We are strengthening ties between Israel and this important global power. This serves our security, economic, trade and tourism interests, as well as many other areas. This is a great blessing for the State of Israel. — PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) January 14, 2018 × They will then head to Teen Murti monument in Delhi where the two leaders will lay a wreath at the monument, commemorating the role of three Indian regiments who fought at the battle of Haifa over a century ago - and celebrate the growing friendship between the two countries. They will be joined by External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj later in the afternoon at the Taj Palace Hotel, where Netanyahu will be staying. Modi will also host a private dinner for Netanyahu on Sunday. The visiting dignitary, on Monday, will be given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan which will be followed by the wreath laying at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. Bilateral talks between the two prime ministers will take place on Monday. The primary focus will be on "innovation" -- covering trade, economy, agriculture, water management etc. Discussion on defence and security components are also expected to happen as they have been a strong part of India-Israel relations for a while. Officials have informed that the two countries will possibly sign a number of pacts on startups and also issue a joint press statement. The Israeli Prime Minister will call on President Ram Nath Kovind later in the day. On Tuesday, Netanyahu, along with his wife Sara, will leave for Agra to see Taj Mahal and then visit Delhi to participate in an annual multilateral conference, Raisina Dialogue, where he is scheduled to deliver an inaugural speech. Netanyahu will leave for Ahmedabad on Wednesday to visit the Sabarmati Ashram and also attend an event at the International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (iCreate). He will later visit the Centre of Excellence, Vadrad before leaving for Mumbai on the same day. On Thursday, Netanyahu will have a power breakfast with Indian CEOs and attend a business seminar in Mumbai. He will also lay a wreath at Taj Hotel and pay a visit to Nariman House - Chabad Centre. Next, Netanyahu will hold talks with Bollywood personalities in an exclusive "Shalom Bollywood" event, that aims at exploring business opportunities for Indian filmmakers in Israel. There is cooperation on security issues between the two countries, including a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, the two countries had signed three vital agreements on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, Cooperation in Homeland Security, and Protection of Classified Material in February 2014. (With inputs from ANI)

Watch: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in India, Modi breaks protocol to receive him at airport

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known for his greetings often manifested in warm embraces.</p>

<p>The Congress today mocked PM&#39;s &#39;hugplomacy&#39; and tweeted a video showcasing his interactions with world leaders that turned into awkward moments more than often.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">With Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visiting India, we look forward to more hugs from PM Modi! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hugplomacy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hugplomacy</a> <a href="https://t.co/M3BKK2Mhmf">pic.twitter.com/M3BKK2Mhmf</a></p>
&mdash; Congress (@INCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/952469912554946561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>The video starts by stating &#39;Modi is awkward&#39; and depicted an event where the Prime Minister&#39;s handshake was dismissed by the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Video&#39;s &#39;Hug highlights&#39; included PM Modi&#39;s &#39;Titanic Hug&#39; with former French President Francois Hollande, the &#39;Barely There Hug&#39; with the President of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu and the &#39;Never Let You Go Hug&#39; with Japanese President Abe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;We can&#39;t wait for more &#39;hugplomacy&#39;,&quot; noted the video.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;With Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visiting India, we look forward to more hugs from PM Modi! #Hugplomacy,&quot; noted Congress&#39; tweet.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke protocol today to receive his Israeli counterpart at the airport. PM Netanyahu was received with a warm hug.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations. @IsraeliPM #ShalomNamaste,&quot; PM Modi tweeted earlier today.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Welcome to India, my friend PM <a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@netanyahu</a>! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations. <a href="https://twitter.com/IsraeliPM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IsraeliPM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShalomNamaste?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShalomNamaste</a> <a href="https://t.co/sidgMmA1fu">pic.twitter.com/sidgMmA1fu</a></p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/952461694567047168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;Thank you to my good friend, Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi, who surprised me with a personal welcome at the airport,&quot; Netanyahu posted on Twitter.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you to my good friend, Indian Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> , who surprised me with a personal welcome at the airport upon my arrival in India. Together we will bring the relations between our countries to new heights! ???????????????? <a href="https://t.co/bPZftC4caF">pic.twitter.com/bPZftC4caF</a></p>
&mdash; Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) <a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/952490280481099776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Meanwhile, the BJP slammed the Congress for releasing a video that &quot;insults&quot; PM Modi.</p>

<p>&quot;Congress lacks concrete issues to discuss so they tweeted a disgusting video showing PM Modi when he was receiving Israel PM. This not only insults our PM but also the guest,&quot; Human Resource Development Minister, Prakash Javadekar, noted.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congress lacks concrete issues to discuss so they tweeted a disgusting video showing PM Modi when he was receiving Israel PM. This not only insults our PM but also a guest: Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister on Congress tweeting a video on PM Modi &amp; Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu <a href="https://t.co/oqrEwiu7lP">pic.twitter.com/oqrEwiu7lP</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/952527381893234689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;Congress leaders have stooped low,&quot; exclaimed Union Minister Babul Supriyo.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The tweet proves that Congress leaders have stooped* low and shows their low mentality. They are indulging in crass humor to seek attention. Congress has taken another step towards its annihilation: Babul Supriyo, Union Minister on Congress tweeting a video on PM Modi &amp; Israel PM</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/952531007713849344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke protocol today to receive his Israeli counterpart at the airport. PM Netanyahu was received with a warm hug

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known for his greetings often manifested in warm embraces. The Congress today mocked PM's 'hugplomacy' and tweeted a video showcasing his interactions with world leaders that turned into awkward moments more than often. With Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visiting India, we look forward to more hugs from PM Modi! #Hugplomacy pic.twitter.com/M3BKK2Mhmf — Congress (@INCIndia) January 14, 2018 × The video starts by stating 'Modi is awkward' and depicted an event where the Prime Minister's handshake was dismissed by the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. Video's 'Hug highlights' included PM Modi's 'Titanic Hug' with former French President Francois Hollande, the 'Barely There Hug' with the President of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu and the 'Never Let You Go Hug' with Japanese President Abe. "We can't wait for more 'hugplomacy'," noted the video. "With Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visiting India, we look forward to more hugs from PM Modi! #Hugplomacy," noted Congress' tweet. Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke protocol today to receive his Israeli counterpart at the airport. PM Netanyahu was received with a warm hug. "Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations. @IsraeliPM #ShalomNamaste," PM Modi tweeted earlier today. Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations. @IsraeliPM #ShalomNamaste pic.twitter.com/sidgMmA1fu — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018 × "Thank you to my good friend, Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi, who surprised me with a personal welcome at the airport," Netanyahu posted on Twitter. Thank you to my good friend, Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi , who surprised me with a personal welcome at the airport upon my arrival in India. Together we will bring the relations between our countries to new heights! ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/bPZftC4caF — Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) January 14, 2018 × Meanwhile, the BJP slammed the Congress for releasing a video that "insults" PM Modi. "Congress lacks concrete issues to discuss so they tweeted a disgusting video showing PM Modi when he was receiving Israel PM. This not only insults our PM but also the guest," Human Resource Development Minister, Prakash Javadekar, noted. Congress lacks concrete issues to discuss so they tweeted a disgusting video showing PM Modi when he was receiving Israel PM. This not only insults our PM but also a guest: Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister on Congress tweeting a video on PM Modi & Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu pic.twitter.com/oqrEwiu7lP — ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2018 × "Congress leaders have stooped low," exclaimed Union Minister Babul Supriyo. The tweet proves that Congress leaders have stooped* low and shows their low mentality. They are indulging in crass humor to seek attention. Congress has taken another step towards its annihilation: Babul Supriyo, Union Minister on Congress tweeting a video on PM Modi & Israel PM — ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2018 ×

Congress releases video on PM Modi's 'hugplomacy', BJP slams it

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-crisis-internal-matter-will-be-resolved-soon-says-bar-councilof-india-29484">Supreme Court crisis: &#39;Internal matter, will be resolved soon,&#39; says Bar Council of India</a></p>

<p>The Bar Council made the statement after meeting with Justice Chelameswar, one of the four judges to have called an unprecedented press conference on Friday.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-live-updates-israeli-pm-bejamin-netanyahu-lands-in-india-modi-breaks-protocol-to-receive-him-at-airport-29470">Live Updates:&nbsp;Israeli PM, PM Modi laud role of Indian soldiers in liberating Haifa</a></p>

<p>Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in New Delhi this afternoon, six months after PM Modi&#39;s first-ever visit to Israel.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-crisis-4-retired-judges-write-open-letter-to-cji-29488">Supreme Court crisis: 4 retired judges write open letter to CJI</a></p>

<p>The four retired judges, including one from the Supreme Court, said they agree with the issues raised by the Supreme Court judges.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-a-global-power-says-israeli-pm-benjamin-netanyahu-29478">India a global power, says Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu</a></p>

<p>The statement was made before Netanyahu, who landed in New Delhi on Sunday, left Israel for India.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-releases-video-on-pm-modis-hugplomacy-29487">Congress releases video on PM Modi&#39;s &#39;</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-releases-video-on-pm-modis-hugplomacy-29487">hugplomacy</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-releases-video-on-pm-modis-hugplomacy-29487">&#39;</a></p>

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke protocol today to receive his Israeli counterpart at the airport. PM Netanyahu was received with a warm hug.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Supreme Court crisis: 'Internal matter, will be resolved soon,' says Bar Council of India The Bar Council made the statement after meeting with Justice Chelameswar, one of the four judges to have called an unprecedented press conference on Friday. Live Updates: Israeli PM, PM Modi laud role of Indian soldiers in liberating Haifa Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in New Delhi this afternoon, six months after PM Modi's first-ever visit to Israel. Supreme Court crisis: 4 retired judges write open letter to CJI The four retired judges, including one from the Supreme Court, said they agree with the issues raised by the Supreme Court judges. India a global power, says Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu The statement was made before Netanyahu, who landed in New Delhi on Sunday, left Israel for India. Congress releases video on PM Modi's 'hugplomacy' Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke protocol today to receive his Israeli counterpart at the airport. PM Netanyahu was received with a warm hug.

WION Evening News brief, January 14, 2018

<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will present a special gift - the Gal-Mobile water desalinisation and purification jeep - to his friend Narendra Modi during his visit to India starting January 14, according to sources here.</p>

<p>Netanyahu and Modi waded into the Mediterranean Sea and rode the &quot;buggy&quot; jeep on the coast during the latter&#39;s visit to Israel in July last year.</p>

<p>Now Netanyahu is going to gift the same jeep to Modi, informed sources said.</p>

<p>As Netanyahu prepares for his four-day visit to India, sources confirmed that the jeep has &quot;indeed&quot; left for India and &quot;would be arriving on time&quot; to be presented by the Israeli Prime Minister to Modi.</p>

<p>The jeep is said to cost around 390,000 shekels (approximately Rs 72 lakh).</p>

<p>PM Modi and Netanyahu had witnessed the demonstration of sea water purification technology pioneered by Israel at a water desalination unit on the Olga Beach during the Indian Prime Minister&#39;s visit to Israel.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Visited the GAL-Mobile water desalination unit at Olga Beach. <a href="https://t.co/FuirtlyLAG">pic.twitter.com/FuirtlyLAG</a></p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/882960986063290368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;I am thankful to Bibi (Netanyahu) because the vehicle which I saw today, particularly during a natural calamity when people are suffering (shortage of) drinking water...Can provide drinking water,&quot; Modi had said after the demonstration.</p>

<p>Gal-Mobile is an independent, integrated water purification vehicle, designed to produce high-quality drinking water. It can be useful in natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, military use in difficult terrain and rural areas to provide drinkable water.</p>

<p>It can purify up to 20,000 litres per day of seawater and 80,000 litres per day of brackish/muddy or contaminated river water and bring it to WHO standards.</p>

<p>The camaraderie between the two leaders was on full display as they spent some time on the beach and had a long chat standing ankle deep in the waters with waves hitting their feet.</p>

<p>&quot;There&#39;s nothing like going to the beach with friends!,&quot; the Israeli leader had later tweeted.</p>

<p>The two leaders later drove together in the mobile water desalination unit, which looked like a dune buggy, and sipped desalinated water from wine glasses, raising a toast with others present there.</p>


PM Modi and Netanyahu had witnessed the demonstration of sea water purification technology pioneered by Israel at a water desalination unit on the Olga Beach during the Indian Prime Minister's visit to Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will present a special gift - the Gal-Mobile water desalinisation and purification jeep - to his friend Narendra Modi during his visit to India starting January 14, according to sources here. Netanyahu and Modi waded into the Mediterranean Sea and rode the "buggy" jeep on the coast during the latter's visit to Israel in July last year. Now Netanyahu is going to gift the same jeep to Modi, informed sources said. As Netanyahu prepares for his four-day visit to India, sources confirmed that the jeep has "indeed" left for India and "would be arriving on time" to be presented by the Israeli Prime Minister to Modi. The jeep is said to cost around 390,000 shekels (approximately Rs 72 lakh). PM Modi and Netanyahu had witnessed the demonstration of sea water purification technology pioneered by Israel at a water desalination unit on the Olga Beach during the Indian Prime Minister's visit to Israel. Visited the GAL-Mobile water desalination unit at Olga Beach. pic.twitter.com/FuirtlyLAG — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 6, 2017 × "I am thankful to Bibi (Netanyahu) because the vehicle which I saw today, particularly during a natural calamity when people are suffering (shortage of) drinking water...Can provide drinking water," Modi had said after the demonstration. Gal-Mobile is an independent, integrated water purification vehicle, designed to produce high-quality drinking water. It can be useful in natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, military use in difficult terrain and rural areas to provide drinkable water. It can purify up to 20,000 litres per day of seawater and 80,000 litres per day of brackish/muddy or contaminated river water and bring it to WHO standards. The camaraderie between the two leaders was on full display as they spent some time on the beach and had a long chat standing ankle deep in the waters with waves hitting their feet. "There's nothing like going to the beach with friends!," the Israeli leader had later tweeted. The two leaders later drove together in the mobile water desalination unit, which looked like a dune buggy, and sipped desalinated water from wine glasses, raising a toast with others present there.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to gift water desalinisation jeep to PM Narendra Modi

<p>Palestinians condemned as blackmail on Wednesday US&nbsp;President Donald Trump&#39;s threat to withhold future aid payments over what he called the Palestinians&#39; unwillingness to talk peace with Israel.</p>

<p>Trump drew praise from a cabinet minister in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s right-wing government but a warning from a former Israeli peace negotiator of the dangers in cutting off financial assistance to the Palestinians.</p>

<p>On Twitter on Tuesday, Trump said that Washington gives Palestinians &quot;HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect. They don&#39;t even want to negotiate a long overdue peace treaty with Israel ... with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?&quot;</p>

<p>Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization&#39;s executive committee, said in response: &quot;We will not be blackmailed.&quot;</p>

<p>Palestinian anger at Trump is already high over his December 6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital, a declaration that also generated outrage across the Arab world and concern among Washington&#39;s Western allies.</p>

<p>Commenting on Trump&#39;s tweets, Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said: &quot;Jerusalem is not for sale, neither for gold nor for silver.&quot;</p>

<p>Abu Rdainah said the Palestinians were not opposed to returning to peace talks that collapsed in 2014, but only on the basis of establishing a state of their own along the lines that existed before Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 war.</p>

<p>&quot;If the United States is keen about peace and about its interests it must abide by that,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Israel, which withdrew troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip in 2005, has called the pre-1967 war West Bank boundaries indefensible and has pledged to hold on to all of Jerusalem forever.</p>

<p><strong>UNRWA funding</strong></p>

<p>A report prepared for the US&nbsp;Congress in December 2016 by the US&nbsp;Congressional Research Service said annual US&nbsp;economic support to the West Bank and Gaza Strip has averaged around $400 million since fiscal 2008.</p>

<p>Much of the money has gone toward US&nbsp;Agency for International Development-administered project assistance and the rest toward budget support for the Palestinian Authority (PA), which administers limited self-rule in the Palestinian territories under interim peace agreements.</p>

<p>Israeli Culture Minister Miri Regev, a member of Netanyahu&#39;s Likud party, welcomed Trump&#39;s aid comments, saying on Army Radio: &quot;I am very satisfied ... (Trump) is saying the time has come to stop saying flattering words (to the Palestinians).&quot;</p>

<p>But Tzipi Livni, an Israeli opposition politician and a former peace negotiator, said &quot;a responsible and serious (Israeli) government&quot; should quietly tell Trump that it would be in Israel&#39;s interest to prevent a &quot;humanitarian crisis in Gaza&quot; and to continue to fund Palestinian security forces cooperating with Israel.</p>

<p>Earlier on Tuesday, Trump&#39;s UN&nbsp;ambassador disclosed plans to stop funding a United Nations agency that provides humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees.</p>

<p>&quot;The president has basically said he doesn&#39;t want to give any additional funding, or stop funding, until the Palestinians agree to come back to the negotiation table,&quot; Ambassador Nikki Haley told reporters when asked about future US&nbsp;funding for the UN&nbsp;Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)for Palestinian refugees.</p>

<p>In an emailed statement, UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness said &quot;UNRWA has not been informed by the United States administration of any changes in US&nbsp;funding to the Agency&quot;.</p>

<p>The United States is the largest donor to the agency, with a pledge of nearly $370 million as of 2016, according to UNRWA&#39;s website.</p>

<p>According to UNRWA&#39;s website, there are 5.9 million UNRWA refugees and other registered persons eligible for its services, which include education and health care, in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.</p>


Trump drew praise from a cabinet minister in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government but a warning from a former Israeli peace negotiator of the dangers in cutting off financial assistance to the Palestinians

Palestinians condemned as blackmail on Wednesday US President Donald Trump's threat to withhold future aid payments over what he called the Palestinians' unwillingness to talk peace with Israel. Trump drew praise from a cabinet minister in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government but a warning from a former Israeli peace negotiator of the dangers in cutting off financial assistance to the Palestinians. On Twitter on Tuesday, Trump said that Washington gives Palestinians "HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect. They don't even want to negotiate a long overdue peace treaty with Israel ... with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?" Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization's executive committee, said in response: "We will not be blackmailed." Palestinian anger at Trump is already high over his December 6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a declaration that also generated outrage across the Arab world and concern among Washington's Western allies. Commenting on Trump's tweets, Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said: "Jerusalem is not for sale, neither for gold nor for silver." Abu Rdainah said the Palestinians were not opposed to returning to peace talks that collapsed in 2014, but only on the basis of establishing a state of their own along the lines that existed before Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 war. "If the United States is keen about peace and about its interests it must abide by that," he said. Israel, which withdrew troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip in 2005, has called the pre-1967 war West Bank boundaries indefensible and has pledged to hold on to all of Jerusalem forever. UNRWA funding A report prepared for the US Congress in December 2016 by the US Congressional Research Service said annual US economic support to the West Bank and Gaza Strip has averaged around $400 million since fiscal 2008. Much of the money has gone toward US Agency for International Development-administered project assistance and the rest toward budget support for the Palestinian Authority (PA), which administers limited self-rule in the Palestinian territories under interim peace agreements. Israeli Culture Minister Miri Regev, a member of Netanyahu's Likud party, welcomed Trump's aid comments, saying on Army Radio: "I am very satisfied ... (Trump) is saying the time has come to stop saying flattering words (to the Palestinians)." But Tzipi Livni, an Israeli opposition politician and a former peace negotiator, said "a responsible and serious (Israeli) government" should quietly tell Trump that it would be in Israel's interest to prevent a "humanitarian crisis in Gaza" and to continue to fund Palestinian security forces cooperating with Israel. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump's UN ambassador disclosed plans to stop funding a United Nations agency that provides humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees. "The president has basically said he doesn't want to give any additional funding, or stop funding, until the Palestinians agree to come back to the negotiation table," Ambassador Nikki Haley told reporters when asked about future US funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)for Palestinian refugees. In an emailed statement, UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness said "UNRWA has not been informed by the United States administration of any changes in US funding to the Agency". The United States is the largest donor to the agency, with a pledge of nearly $370 million as of 2016, according to UNRWA's website. According to UNRWA's website, there are 5.9 million UNRWA refugees and other registered persons eligible for its services, which include education and health care, in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Palestinians condemn Trump aid halt threat, mixed reaction in Israel

<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US&nbsp;President Donald Trump are supporting the anti-government protests in Iran, Turkey&#39;s foreign minister was quoted as saying by broadcaster CNN Turk on Wednesday.</p>

<p>Mevlut Cavusoglu was also cited as saying that Turkey was against foreign interventions in Iran.</p>

<p>Cavusoglu said Turkey had not made any assurances to the United States in the resolution of a months-long row which had led to the two countries suspending visa services, CNN Turk said.</p>

<p>It said Cavusoglu would meet his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel on Saturday.</p>


Mevlut Cavusoglu was also cited as saying that Turkey was against foreign interventions in Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump are supporting the anti-government protests in Iran, Turkey's foreign minister was quoted as saying by broadcaster CNN Turk on Wednesday. Mevlut Cavusoglu was also cited as saying that Turkey was against foreign interventions in Iran. Cavusoglu said Turkey had not made any assurances to the United States in the resolution of a months-long row which had led to the two countries suspending visa services, CNN Turk said. It said Cavusoglu would meet his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel on Saturday.

Netanyahu, Trump supporting Iran protests: Turkey

<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday hailed Guatemala&#39;s decision to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/president-morales-decides-to-move-guatemalas-embassy-to-jerusalem-27617">move its embassy to Jerusalem</a>, saying other nations would also follow Washington&#39;s recognition of the city as Israel&#39;s capital.</p>

<p>&quot;Other countries will recognise Jerusalem and announce the relocation of their embassies. A second country did it and I repeat it: there will be others, it&#39;s just the start and it&#39;s important,&quot; Netanyahu said in a statement.</p>

<p>Guatemala&#39;s announcement on Sunday came after the UN General Assembly approved a motion rejecting US President Donald Trump&#39;s controversial decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital.</p>

<p>Trump&#39;s announcement sparked anger across the Palestinian territories and the wider Muslim world.</p>

<p>Israel seized control of the eastern part of the city in the 1967 Middle East war and sees all of Jerusalem as its undivided capital. The Palestinians view the east as the capital of their future state.</p>

<p>No countries currently have their embassies in Jerusalem, instead keeping them in the Israeli commercial capital Tel Aviv.</p>

<p>On Thursday, two-thirds of UN member states rejected Trump&#39;s decision.</p>

<p>Only eight countries stood with the United States in voting against the resolution held in the UN General Assembly, among them Guatemala and Honduras.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Guatemala's announcement on Sunday came after the UN General Assembly approved a motion rejecting US President Donald Trump's controversial decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday hailed Guatemala's decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem, saying other nations would also follow Washington's recognition of the city as Israel's capital. "Other countries will recognise Jerusalem and announce the relocation of their embassies. A second country did it and I repeat it: there will be others, it's just the start and it's important," Netanyahu said in a statement. Guatemala's announcement on Sunday came after the UN General Assembly approved a motion rejecting US President Donald Trump's controversial decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Trump's announcement sparked anger across the Palestinian territories and the wider Muslim world. Israel seized control of the eastern part of the city in the 1967 Middle East war and sees all of Jerusalem as its undivided capital. The Palestinians view the east as the capital of their future state. No countries currently have their embassies in Jerusalem, instead keeping them in the Israeli commercial capital Tel Aviv. On Thursday, two-thirds of UN member states rejected Trump's decision. Only eight countries stood with the United States in voting against the resolution held in the UN General Assembly, among them Guatemala and Honduras.

Israel PM says Guatemala embassy move 'just the start'

<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed Israel&#39;s envoy to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to officially announce the country&#39;s withdrawal from the organisation.</p>

<p>This is the first substantive action Israel has taken since it decided to leave UNESCO in October.</p>

<p>Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said Friday that the decision was based on the UN cultural agency&#39;s &quot;systematic attacks&quot; on the Jewish state and &quot;attempts to disconnect Jewish history from the land of Israel.&quot;</p>

<p>Nahshon said the official letter of departure will be submitted after December 25 and then Israel will leave the organization by the end of 2018.</p>

<p>Netanyahu announced his country will follow the United States to pull out of UNESCO in October. He hailed US&nbsp;President Donald Trump&rsquo;s decision &quot;brave and moral&quot;, and accused the organization of becoming a &quot;theater of the absurd&quot; because instead of preserving history, it is twisting it.</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed Israel's envoy to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to officially announce the country's withdrawal from the organisation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed Israel's envoy to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to officially announce the country's withdrawal from the organisation. This is the first substantive action Israel has taken since it decided to leave UNESCO in October. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said Friday that the decision was based on the UN cultural agency's "systematic attacks" on the Jewish state and "attempts to disconnect Jewish history from the land of Israel." Nahshon said the official letter of departure will be submitted after December 25 and then Israel will leave the organization by the end of 2018. Netanyahu announced his country will follow the United States to pull out of UNESCO in October. He hailed US President Donald Trump’s decision "brave and moral", and accused the organization of becoming a "theater of the absurd" because instead of preserving history, it is twisting it.

Israel to quit UNESCO

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/2g-scam-verdict-cbi-says-necessary-legal-remedies-will-be-taken-27361" target="_blank">2G scam verdict: CBI says &#39;necessary legal remedies will be taken&#39;</a></p>

<p>The CBI said today after the 2G scam verdict in which all 17 accused were acquitted that &quot;necessary legal remedies will be taken&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sachin-tendulkars-unable-to-lead-debate-as-rajya-sabha-gets-adjourned-27360" target="_blank">Rajya Sabha adjourned, Sachin not allowed to make maiden speech</a></p>

<p>In a first, cricket legend&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/finally-sachin-tendulkar-to-initiate-debate-in-rajya-sabha-today-27337">Sachin Tendulkar was expected to lead a debate</a>&nbsp;in Rajya Sabha today on &quot;Right to Play and the future of sports in India&quot;. Sachin&#39;s debate could not be initiated as the Rajya Sabha session was adjourned until 11 am tomorrow after sloganeering began by the opposition.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-updates-voting-begins-in-rk-nagar-27326" target="_blank">RK Nagar </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-updates-voting-begins-in-rk-nagar-27326" target="_blank">bypoll</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-updates-voting-begins-in-rk-nagar-27326" target="_blank"> live updates: Voting concludes</a></p>

<p>Voting began today in the prestigious RK Nagar bypoll in Chennai after a&nbsp;high-voltage campaign by the ruling AIADMK, Independent candidate TTV Dinkarakan and DMK for late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa&#39;s seat.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/2g-scam-verdict-a-raja-kanimozhi-15-other-accused-acquitted-of-graft-charges-27341" target="_blank">2G scam verdict: A Raja, Kanimozhi, all other accused acquitted of graft charges</a></p>

<p>All 17 accused in the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-court-to-pronounce-verdict-in-2g-scam-today-27328">2G scam</a>, including former Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK Member of Parliament Kanimozhi and three companies, have been acquitted of corruption charges.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/israel-pm-rejects-jerusalem-vote-at-united-nations-house-of-lies-27381" target="_blank">Israel PM rejects Jerusalem vote at United Nations &#39;house of lies&#39;</a></p>

<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dubbed the United Nations a &quot;house of lies&quot; on Thursday, ahead of a General Assembly vote on a resolution rejecting US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital.</p>


2G scam verdict: CBI says 'necessary legal remedies will be taken' The CBI said today after the 2G scam verdict in which all 17 accused were acquitted that "necessary legal remedies will be taken". Rajya Sabha adjourned, Sachin not allowed to make maiden speech In a first, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar was expected to lead a debate in Rajya Sabha today on "Right to Play and the future of sports in India". Sachin's debate could not be initiated as the Rajya Sabha session was adjourned until 11 am tomorrow after sloganeering began by the opposition. RK Nagar bypoll live updates: Voting concludes Voting began today in the prestigious RK Nagar bypoll in Chennai after a high-voltage campaign by the ruling AIADMK, Independent candidate TTV Dinkarakan and DMK for late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa's seat. 2G scam verdict: A Raja, Kanimozhi, all other accused acquitted of graft charges All 17 accused in the 2G scam, including former Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK Member of Parliament Kanimozhi and three companies, have been acquitted of corruption charges. Israel PM rejects Jerusalem vote at United Nations 'house of lies' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dubbed the United Nations a "house of lies" on Thursday, ahead of a General Assembly vote on a resolution rejecting US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

WION Evening News brief, 21 December

<p>High winds and heavy snow in Europe on Monday stranded thousands of travellers, kept schoolchildren at home and even played havoc with international diplomacy.</p>

<p>It was the second day running of nasty weather across the continent, with Britain still digging out from its deepest snowfall in four years.</p>

<p>The snowed-over runways in Brussels on Monday provoked about 90 flight cancellations and some 100 delays, including for the plane carrying Israel&#39;s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu back home.</p>

<p>He tweeted a video from his plane that opened with a shot of the white tarmac at the close of his European visit marked by the US recognising Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital.</p>

<p>A scheduled meeting between Netanyahu and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had to be called off because of the weather, officials said.</p>

<p>Brussels airport advised passengers to stay away, as staff were trying to de-ice planes and clear snow from the runways.</p>

<p>&quot;Heavy snowfall: do not come to the airport until further notice,&quot; the airport said on Twitter, adding that passengers should check the status of their flights.</p>

<p>Schiphol airport, just outside Amsterdam, was forced to cancel 430 flights already by early afternoon -- about a third of all flights in or out of one of Europe&#39;s top five busiest air hubs -- while many others faced long delays.</p>

<p>Eindhoven airport, the Netherlands&#39; second biggest, said just after midday that &quot;due to wintry weather conditions, the runway is currently closed&quot;.</p>

<p>But it was not just knee-high snow that was causing trouble, with winds of up to 150 kilometres per hour (93 miles per hour) forecast along France&#39;s Atlantic Coast.</p>

<p>Some 120,000 people were without power in France as storms that caused a ferry to run aground in Calais on Sunday continued to sweep the centre and west of the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Brutal winds shut down ferry service between the southern Spanish port of Algeciras and Tangiers in Morocco, while also shuttering some schools in southern Spain.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Hundreds of schools closed&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>At the same time, Britain was recovering after heavy snow brought freezing temperatures, shutting hundreds of schools and disrupting flights for a second day.</p>

<p>Power was restored to more than 100,000 homes, while airports tried to recover their schedules following the winter&#39;s first major snowfall -- the biggest in four years.</p>

<p>The last time Britain saw this much heavy snow nationwide was in March 2013.</p>

<p>Newspaper front pages were filled with pictures of people either enjoying the snow or stuck in gridlock on the roads.</p>

<p>Some 32 centimetres (12.5 inches) of snow fell in Sennybridge in south Wales on Sunday.</p>

<p>And temperatures overnight dropped to minus 11.6 degrees Celsius (11 degrees Fahrenheit) in Northumberland, northeast England.</p>

<p>The Western Power Distribution network said it has restored power to more than 99,500 customers, while a further 7,000 were still without electricity, largely in west central England.</p>

<p>Meanwhile disruption continued on the roads and at airports.</p>

<p>London Heathrow, Europe&#39;s busiest airport by passenger numbers, said it was still experiencing problems.</p>

<p>&quot;Some flights at Heathrow will be disrupted on Monday due to crew and aircraft being out of position following yesterday&#39;s weather,&quot; it said.</p>

<p>&quot;We&#39;re working with our airline partners to return aircraft to where they need to be, and full service recovery remains the focus.&quot;</p>

<p>Hundreds of schools were closed in western England and north Wales, while much of the kingdom was on a yellow weather warning for snow and ice.</p>

<p>All local authority-run schools in the central city of Birmingham were also shut.</p>


The snowed-over runways in Brussels on Monday provoked about 90 flight cancellations and some 100 delays, including for the plane carrying Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu back home

High winds and heavy snow in Europe on Monday stranded thousands of travellers, kept schoolchildren at home and even played havoc with international diplomacy. It was the second day running of nasty weather across the continent, with Britain still digging out from its deepest snowfall in four years. The snowed-over runways in Brussels on Monday provoked about 90 flight cancellations and some 100 delays, including for the plane carrying Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu back home. He tweeted a video from his plane that opened with a shot of the white tarmac at the close of his European visit marked by the US recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital. A scheduled meeting between Netanyahu and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had to be called off because of the weather, officials said. Brussels airport advised passengers to stay away, as staff were trying to de-ice planes and clear snow from the runways. "Heavy snowfall: do not come to the airport until further notice," the airport said on Twitter, adding that passengers should check the status of their flights. Schiphol airport, just outside Amsterdam, was forced to cancel 430 flights already by early afternoon -- about a third of all flights in or out of one of Europe's top five busiest air hubs -- while many others faced long delays. Eindhoven airport, the Netherlands' second biggest, said just after midday that "due to wintry weather conditions, the runway is currently closed". But it was not just knee-high snow that was causing trouble, with winds of up to 150 kilometres per hour (93 miles per hour) forecast along France's Atlantic Coast. Some 120,000 people were without power in France as storms that caused a ferry to run aground in Calais on Sunday continued to sweep the centre and west of the country. Brutal winds shut down ferry service between the southern Spanish port of Algeciras and Tangiers in Morocco, while also shuttering some schools in southern Spain. Hundreds of schools closed At the same time, Britain was recovering after heavy snow brought freezing temperatures, shutting hundreds of schools and disrupting flights for a second day. Power was restored to more than 100,000 homes, while airports tried to recover their schedules following the winter's first major snowfall -- the biggest in four years. The last time Britain saw this much heavy snow nationwide was in March 2013. Newspaper front pages were filled with pictures of people either enjoying the snow or stuck in gridlock on the roads. Some 32 centimetres (12.5 inches) of snow fell in Sennybridge in south Wales on Sunday. And temperatures overnight dropped to minus 11.6 degrees Celsius (11 degrees Fahrenheit) in Northumberland, northeast England. The Western Power Distribution network said it has restored power to more than 99,500 customers, while a further 7,000 were still without electricity, largely in west central England. Meanwhile disruption continued on the roads and at airports. London Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport by passenger numbers, said it was still experiencing problems. "Some flights at Heathrow will be disrupted on Monday due to crew and aircraft being out of position following yesterday's weather," it said. "We're working with our airline partners to return aircraft to where they need to be, and full service recovery remains the focus." Hundreds of schools were closed in western England and north Wales, while much of the kingdom was on a yellow weather warning for snow and ice. All local authority-run schools in the central city of Birmingham were also shut.

Nasty weather wreaks havoc in Europe

<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he would not take any lectures from President Tayyip Erdogan after the Turkish leader criticised Israel over the weekend.</p>

<p>&quot;Mr Erdogan has attacked Israel. I&#39;m not used to receiving lectures about morality from a leader who bombs Kurdish villages in his native Turkey, who jails journalists, helps Iran go around international sanctions and who helps terrorists, including in Gaza, kill innocent people,&quot; Netanyahu told reporters at a news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.</p>


'I'm not used to receiving lectures about morality from a leader who bombs Kurdish villages in his native Turkey,' Netanyahu told reporters at a news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he would not take any lectures from President Tayyip Erdogan after the Turkish leader criticised Israel over the weekend. "Mr Erdogan has attacked Israel. I'm not used to receiving lectures about morality from a leader who bombs Kurdish villages in his native Turkey, who jails journalists, helps Iran go around international sanctions and who helps terrorists, including in Gaza, kill innocent people," Netanyahu told reporters at a news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Israel's Netanyahu says won't take lectures from Turkey's Erdogan

<p>Pakistan today joined the international chorus against US decision to name Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital.</p>

<p>Trump in a speech in the White House said today that it is &quot;time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel&quot;, adding that &quot;new approach&quot; was needed to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.</p>

<p>Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said he deeply regretted that pleas from states across the globe not to alter the &quot;legal and historical status&quot; of Al Quds Al Sharif have been ignored.</p>

<p>&quot;This decision represents a serious violation of international law and applicable UN Security Council resolutions, particularly the UNSCR 478,&quot; Pakistan PM said in a statement.</p>

<p>&quot;It is a serious setback to the rule of law and international norms. It signals a severe blow to the Middle East peace process as well,&quot;&nbsp;the statement added.</p>

<p>Trump&#39;s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital created a firestorm in the Middle East, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said Trump&#39;s decision was &quot;deplorable and unacceptable&quot;.</p>

<p>On the other hand, &nbsp;Israel&#39;s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a &quot;courageous and just decision.&quot;</p>

<p>On Tuesday, Trump in a meeting with cabinet ministers at the White House had said the decision was &quot;long overdue&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>America&#39;s NATO allies Britain and France called Trump&#39;s decision &quot;unhelpful&quot; and &quot;regrettable&quot;.</p>

<p>Germany said it &quot;does not support&quot; Trump&#39;s decision.</p>

<p>Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Trump&#39;s decision puts the region in a &quot;ring of fire&quot;.</p>


Pakistan PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said Trump's decision signals a severe blow to the Middle East peace process

Pakistan today joined the international chorus against US decision to name Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Trump in a speech in the White House said today that it is "time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel", adding that "new approach" was needed to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said he deeply regretted that pleas from states across the globe not to alter the "legal and historical status" of Al Quds Al Sharif have been ignored. "This decision represents a serious violation of international law and applicable UN Security Council resolutions, particularly the UNSCR 478," Pakistan PM said in a statement. "It is a serious setback to the rule of law and international norms. It signals a severe blow to the Middle East peace process as well," the statement added. Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital created a firestorm in the Middle East, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said Trump's decision was "deplorable and unacceptable". On the other hand, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a "courageous and just decision." On Tuesday, Trump in a meeting with cabinet ministers at the White House had said the decision was "long overdue". America's NATO allies Britain and France called Trump's decision "unhelpful" and "regrettable". Germany said it "does not support" Trump's decision. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Trump's decision puts the region in a "ring of fire".

Jerusalem status: US decision a serious violation of international law, says Pak PM Abbasi

<p>Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;is building sites to produce precision-guided missiles in Syria and Lebanon, with the aim of using them against Israel.</p>

<p>At the start of a meeting in Jerusalem with UN&nbsp;Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Netanyahu accused&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;of turning Syria into a &quot;base of military entrenchment as part of its declared goal to eradicate Israel.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;It is also building sites to produce precision-guided missiles towards that end, in both Syria and in Lebanon. This is something Israel cannot accept. This is something the UN&nbsp;should not accept,&quot; Netanyahu said.</p>

<p>Iran, Israel&#39;s arch-enemy, has been Syrian President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s staunchest backer and has provided militia fighters to help him in Syria&#39;s civil war.</p>

<p>There was no immediate comment from&nbsp;Iran.</p>

<p>Israel has pointed to Tehran&#39;s steadily increasing influence in the region during the six-year-old Syrian conflict, whether via its own Revolutionary Guard forces or Shi&#39;ite Muslim proxies, especially Hezbollah.</p>

<p>On Wednesday, Netanyahu, in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Israel was prepared to act unilaterally to prevent an expanded&nbsp;Iranian military presence in Syria.</p>

<p>Russia, also an Assad ally, is seen as holding the balance of power in achieving a deal on Syria&#39;s future. Israel fears an eventual Assad victory could leave&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;with a permanent garrison in Syria, extending a threat posed from neighboring Lebanon by Hezbollah.</p>

<p>Netanyahu accused&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;of building the production sites two weeks after an Israeli television report showed satellite images it said were of a facility Tehran was constructing in northwest Syria to manufacture long-range rockets.</p>

<p>The Channel 2 News report said the images were of a site near the Mediterranean coastal town of Baniyas and were taken by an Israeli satellite.</p>

<p>In parallel to lobbying Moscow, Israel has been trying to persuade Washington that&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;and its guerrilla partners, not Islamic State, pose the greater common threat in the region.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Netanyahu accused Iran of turning Syria into a 'base of military entrenchment as part of its declared goal to eradicate Israel'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Iran is building sites to produce precision-guided missiles in Syria and Lebanon, with the aim of using them against Israel. At the start of a meeting in Jerusalem with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Netanyahu accused Iran of turning Syria into a "base of military entrenchment as part of its declared goal to eradicate Israel." "It is also building sites to produce precision-guided missiles towards that end, in both Syria and in Lebanon. This is something Israel cannot accept. This is something the UN should not accept," Netanyahu said. Iran, Israel's arch-enemy, has been Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's staunchest backer and has provided militia fighters to help him in Syria's civil war. There was no immediate comment from Iran. Israel has pointed to Tehran's steadily increasing influence in the region during the six-year-old Syrian conflict, whether via its own Revolutionary Guard forces or Shi'ite Muslim proxies, especially Hezbollah. On Wednesday, Netanyahu, in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Israel was prepared to act unilaterally to prevent an expanded Iranian military presence in Syria. Russia, also an Assad ally, is seen as holding the balance of power in achieving a deal on Syria's future. Israel fears an eventual Assad victory could leave Iran with a permanent garrison in Syria, extending a threat posed from neighboring Lebanon by Hezbollah. Netanyahu accused Iran of building the production sites two weeks after an Israeli television report showed satellite images it said were of a facility Tehran was constructing in northwest Syria to manufacture long-range rockets. The Channel 2 News report said the images were of a site near the Mediterranean coastal town of Baniyas and were taken by an Israeli satellite. In parallel to lobbying Moscow, Israel has been trying to persuade Washington that Iran and its guerrilla partners, not Islamic State, pose the greater common threat in the region.

Iran building missile production sites in Syria, Lebanon against Israel: PM Netanyahu

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned from his two-nation visit today which also included the historic visit to Israel, the first by an Indian Prime Minister.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Modi started his two-nation tour with a historic visit to Israel marking 25 years of establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Later, he attended the G-20 summit in Hamburg, Germany.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received the Indian Prime Minister at the airport. The two leaders signed a number of agreements.</p>

<p>Narendra Modi also met the Israeli business community where CEOs of Indian and Israeli businesses signed agreements worth $5 billion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After concluding his historic Israel visit, the Prime Minister visited the German city of Hamburg to attend the 12th G-20 summit. At the summit, the Prime Minister urged the countries for a debate on forced migration and emphasesed on a policy framework to distinguish legal migration.</p>

<p>The Prime Minister also held bilateral talks with leaders of South Korea and Italy and discussed a range of issues. He also held talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May discussing ways to extradite economic offenders.</p>

<p>The big take away was Prime Minister Modi&#39;s meeting with the Chinese President Xi Jinping in the backdrop of the ongoing standoff between the two armies back home.</p>


The big take away was Prime Minister Modi's meeting with the Chinese President Xi Jinping in the backdrop of the ongoing standoff between the two armies back home

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned from his two-nation visit today which also included the historic visit to Israel, the first by an Indian Prime Minister. Prime Minister Modi started his two-nation tour with a historic visit to Israel marking 25 years of establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Later, he attended the G-20 summit in Hamburg, Germany. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received the Indian Prime Minister at the airport. The two leaders signed a number of agreements. Narendra Modi also met the Israeli business community where CEOs of Indian and Israeli businesses signed agreements worth $5 billion. After concluding his historic Israel visit, the Prime Minister visited the German city of Hamburg to attend the 12th G-20 summit. At the summit, the Prime Minister urged the countries for a debate on forced migration and emphasesed on a policy framework to distinguish legal migration. The Prime Minister also held bilateral talks with leaders of South Korea and Italy and discussed a range of issues. He also held talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May discussing ways to extradite economic offenders. The big take away was Prime Minister Modi's meeting with the Chinese President Xi Jinping in the backdrop of the ongoing standoff between the two armies back home.

PM Modi returns after concluding two-nation tour including historic Israel visit

<p><strong>By Deepali Mittal</strong></p>

<p>Prime Minister&nbsp;Modi and Israeli PM Netanyahu have signed seven agreements to step-up cooperation in space, agriculture and water management as well as to fight terrorism.</p>

<p>The agreement on agriculture is one of the key deals <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/strategic-partnerships-in-water-agriculture-with-israel-aimed-at-doubling-farmer-incomes-jaishankar-17638">signed by the two countries as part of &nbsp;&quot;India-Israel development cooperation&quot;, </a>which is a three-year work programme in agriculture that will kick off in 2018&nbsp;till 2020.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/famous-indian-israelis-17594">Also Read: Meet&nbsp;Bezalel Eliahu Indian-Israeli floriculturist and agriculturist</a></p>

<p>Israel&#39;s expertise in sustainable agricultural and rural development with limited water and natural resources has captured the imagination of the world.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, this is not the first time the two nations have agreed to work together in the&nbsp;agricultural sector.&nbsp;In 2006, the Indo-Israel Agriculture Project (IIAP) was signed between the two countries and has since been carried out in three phases from 2009-12, 2012-15 and 2015-18.</p>

<p>The implementing partners were NHM&ndash;The National Horticulture Mission under the Indian Ministry of Agriculture&nbsp;and MASHAV, Israel&rsquo;s Agency for International Development Cooperation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</p>

<p>IIAP&#39;s key objectives was&nbsp;sustainable agriculture and diversification of India&#39;s&nbsp;food basket aimed at enlarging the supply of fruits and vegetables.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The project focused on building &quot;centres of excellence&quot;&nbsp;in various agricultural states of India, which needed to rapidly transfer knowledge and technology to the farmers. The centres&nbsp;addressed the concerns of both small and large farm holders, offering a wide range of agricultural practices&nbsp;from hi-tech poly houses and walking tunnels to net houses, which have resulted in good yields adaptable to local conditions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India has so far sanctioned 26 centres of agriculture out of which 15 are functional in Haryana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The scheme has been a huge success too, as MASHAV mentions in a report.&nbsp;The centres focusing on vegetables have been especially successful. The Gharaunda centre in Haryana has helped&nbsp;almost 20,000 farmers as&nbsp;the crop production has increased dramatically by 5 to 10 times as India has been able to&nbsp;utilise the plug-seedling technology introduced by Israel in which&nbsp;young&nbsp;plants are&nbsp;grown in small, ready-to-be-transplanted containers.</p>

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<p>Yields have dramatically increased by 5 to 10 times in Haryana by using Israeli technologies (Image Source: Mashav brochure of IIAP) (Others)</p>
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<p>The use of fertilisers and pesticides have noticeably decreased by more than half&nbsp;while water use has reduced by 65%.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Use of pesticides and fertilizers reduced by more than 50% in Haryana (Image Source: Mashav brochure of IIAP) (Others)</p>
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<p>The Dapoli&nbsp;&quot;center of excellence&quot;&nbsp;has seen a similar improvement in crop production.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>20- to 60 year-old and over 12 meter high mango trees underwent a special process of rejuvenation in the Dapoli town of Maharashtra (Image Source: Mashav brochure of IIAP) (Others)</p>
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<p>As India deepens its relationship with Israel in the field of agriculture, farmers in India would be hoping for new technology and means to fight drought and water shortage.</p>


India and Israel have worked towards sustainable agriculture ever since IIAP was initiated in 2009

By Deepali Mittal Prime Minister Modi and Israeli PM Netanyahu have signed seven agreements to step-up cooperation in space, agriculture and water management as well as to fight terrorism. The agreement on agriculture is one of the key deals signed by the two countries as part of "India-Israel development cooperation", which is a three-year work programme in agriculture that will kick off in 2018 till 2020. Also Read: Meet Bezalel Eliahu Indian-Israeli floriculturist and agriculturist Israel's expertise in sustainable agricultural and rural development with limited water and natural resources has captured the imagination of the world. However, this is not the first time the two nations have agreed to work together in the agricultural sector. In 2006, the Indo-Israel Agriculture Project (IIAP) was signed between the two countries and has since been carried out in three phases from 2009-12, 2012-15 and 2015-18. The implementing partners were NHM–The National Horticulture Mission under the Indian Ministry of Agriculture and MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. IIAP's key objectives was sustainable agriculture and diversification of India's food basket aimed at enlarging the supply of fruits and vegetables. The project focused on building "centres of excellence" in various agricultural states of India, which needed to rapidly transfer knowledge and technology to the farmers. The centres addressed the concerns of both small and large farm holders, offering a wide range of agricultural practices from hi-tech poly houses and walking tunnels to net houses, which have resulted in good yields adaptable to local conditions. India has so far sanctioned 26 centres of agriculture out of which 15 are functional in Haryana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. The scheme has been a huge success too, as MASHAV mentions in a report. The centres focusing on vegetables have been especially successful. The Gharaunda centre in Haryana has helped almost 20,000 farmers as the crop production has increased dramatically by 5 to 10 times as India has been able to utilise the plug-seedling technology introduced by Israel in which young plants are grown in small, ready-to-be-transplanted containers. Yields have dramatically increased by 5 to 10 times in Haryana by using Israeli technologies (Image Source: Mashav brochure of IIAP) (Others) × The use of fertilisers and pesticides have noticeably decreased by more than half while water use has reduced by 65%. Use of pesticides and fertilizers reduced by more than 50% in Haryana (Image Source: Mashav brochure of IIAP) (Others) × The Dapoli "center of excellence" has seen a similar improvement in crop production. 20- to 60 year-old and over 12 meter high mango trees underwent a special process of rejuvenation in the Dapoli town of Maharashtra (Image Source: Mashav brochure of IIAP) (Others) × As India deepens its relationship with Israel in the field of agriculture, farmers in India would be hoping for new technology and means to fight drought and water shortage.

How Israel's plug-seedling technology has changed Indian agriculture

<p>Indian and Israeli companies signed MoUs worth over five billion dollars and agreed to a five-year trade target of USD 20 billion during PM Modi&#39;s meeting with CEOs in Tel Aviv on Thursday.</p>

<p><br />
PM Modi, who shared photographs from the event on Twitter, said he &quot;interacted with Indian and Israeli CEOs to discuss the immense opportunities in India and the wide scope of India-Israel economic cooperation.&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Interacted with Indian &amp; Israeli CEOs to discuss the immense opportunities in India and the wide scope of India-Israel economic cooperation. <a href="https://t.co/9a2Af8IEmJ">pic.twitter.com/9a2Af8IEmJ</a></p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/882957356752973825">July 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Indian PM added that the key focus areas of his Israel visit were start ups and technology.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Some of the key focus areas of my Israel visit are start ups &amp; technology. Had the opportunity to visit an impressive technology exhibition. <a href="https://t.co/lusVK2VU9c">pic.twitter.com/lusVK2VU9c</a></p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/882959411366436864">July 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu attended the first meeting of India-Israel CEOs forum in Tel Aviv. <a href="https://t.co/qSjj5KtW4v">pic.twitter.com/qSjj5KtW4v</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/882956084159184897">July 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tel Aviv: CEOs of India-Israel conclude MoUs worth over 5 bn $ on the sidelines of the visit <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaIsraelFriendship?src=hash">#IndiaIsraelFriendship</a> <a href="https://t.co/UNEVBPJuj5">pic.twitter.com/UNEVBPJuj5</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/882956891919233029">July 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>As many as 12 strategic pacts envisaging investments worth USD 4.3 billion were signed between Indian and Israeli companies, India&#39;s industrial body, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) said.</p>

<p>&quot;The forum identified and stressed on the need to realise opportunities in focus sectors identified during the first meeting of the CEOs forum. There was a consensus that the current trade volume amounting to just over USD 4 billion has the potential to reach USD 20 billion in the next five years. To realise this goal, the forum underlined key recommendations to two heads of states,&quot; FICCI said in its statement.</p>

<p>CEOs from both sides also identified focus sectors for mutual collaboration in the spheres of agriculture, irrigation, water treatment, urban infrastructure, transport (including high speed railways and metro), pharma, life-sciences, digital technologies, Information Technology, start-ups and innovation and defence and homeland security.</p>

<p>Pankaj R Patel, Deputy President of India-Israel CEOs forum confirmed that 12 MoUS worth over 4.5 billion dollars have been signed between Israeli and Indian companies.</p>

<p>&quot;We expect a lot of business development between the two sides with an aim of reaching a business of 20 million dollars in the next five years,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>Shraga Brosh, President India-Israel CEOs forum said ahead of the meet, &quot;The goal of the CEO forum is to increase the cooperation between the Indian and the Israeli businesses. We have identified a few sectors like agriculture, water treatment, healthcare, medical devices and others that we are sure we can reach a goal of 20 billion dollar.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;We have created six working groups dealing with each sector separately and experts from both sides will be part of this group,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel.</p>

<p>Earlier in the day, the Indian PM and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu paid homage to Indian soldiers martyred during World War I at the Haifa Cemetery.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">At Haifa, paid tributes to the brave Indian soldiers who fought courageously in the First World War. <a href="https://t.co/2D7UYKhHwh">pic.twitter.com/2D7UYKhHwh</a></p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/882962473078239234">July 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Before his departure for Hamburg, Germany for the G20 summit, PM Modi also interacted with Indian students in&nbsp;Tel Aviv.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It was great to meet Indian students studying in Israel. <a href="https://t.co/DBN4VRnxm0">pic.twitter.com/DBN4VRnxm0</a></p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/882960466678431745">July 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Indian prime minister, who was accompanied by his Israeli counterpart throughout, shared pictures from his visit, including one signed by Benjamin Netanyahu.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you my friend, PM <a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu">@netanyahu</a> for the signed photo, your kind words, amazing hospitality &amp; passion towards <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaIsraelFriendship?src=hash">#IndiaIsraelFriendship</a>. <a href="https://t.co/1jUtMG3F85">pic.twitter.com/1jUtMG3F85</a></p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/882963178035978240">July 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="rtl" lang="iw">??? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ???. ????? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ????-?????. <a href="https://t.co/ZeYS3eE4xk">pic.twitter.com/ZeYS3eE4xk</a></p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/882964808361951232">July 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I thank the people and Government of Israel for their hospitality. This successful visit will add more energy to India-Israel relations. <a href="https://t.co/sreMPExX9i">pic.twitter.com/sreMPExX9i</a></p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/882964885230854144">July 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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As many as 12 strategic pacts envisaging investments worth USD 4.3 billion were signed

Indian and Israeli companies signed MoUs worth over five billion dollars and agreed to a five-year trade target of USD 20 billion during PM Modi's meeting with CEOs in Tel Aviv on Thursday. PM Modi, who shared photographs from the event on Twitter, said he "interacted with Indian and Israeli CEOs to discuss the immense opportunities in India and the wide scope of India-Israel economic cooperation." Interacted with Indian & Israeli CEOs to discuss the immense opportunities in India and the wide scope of India-Israel economic cooperation. pic.twitter.com/9a2Af8IEmJ — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 6, 2017 × The Indian PM added that the key focus areas of his Israel visit were start ups and technology. Some of the key focus areas of my Israel visit are start ups & technology. Had the opportunity to visit an impressive technology exhibition. pic.twitter.com/lusVK2VU9c — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 6, 2017 × Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu attended the first meeting of India-Israel CEOs forum in Tel Aviv. pic.twitter.com/qSjj5KtW4v — ANI (@ANI_news) July 6, 2017 × Tel Aviv: CEOs of India-Israel conclude MoUs worth over 5 bn $ on the sidelines of the visit #IndiaIsraelFriendship pic.twitter.com/UNEVBPJuj5 — ANI (@ANI_news) July 6, 2017 × As many as 12 strategic pacts envisaging investments worth USD 4.3 billion were signed between Indian and Israeli companies, India's industrial body, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) said. "The forum identified and stressed on the need to realise opportunities in focus sectors identified during the first meeting of the CEOs forum. There was a consensus that the current trade volume amounting to just over USD 4 billion has the potential to reach USD 20 billion in the next five years. To realise this goal, the forum underlined key recommendations to two heads of states," FICCI said in its statement. CEOs from both sides also identified focus sectors for mutual collaboration in the spheres of agriculture, irrigation, water treatment, urban infrastructure, transport (including high speed railways and metro), pharma, life-sciences, digital technologies, Information Technology, start-ups and innovation and defence and homeland security. Pankaj R Patel, Deputy President of India-Israel CEOs forum confirmed that 12 MoUS worth over 4.5 billion dollars have been signed between Israeli and Indian companies. "We expect a lot of business development between the two sides with an aim of reaching a business of 20 million dollars in the next five years," he added. Shraga Brosh, President India-Israel CEOs forum said ahead of the meet, "The goal of the CEO forum is to increase the cooperation between the Indian and the Israeli businesses. We have identified a few sectors like agriculture, water treatment, healthcare, medical devices and others that we are sure we can reach a goal of 20 billion dollar." "We have created six working groups dealing with each sector separately and experts from both sides will be part of this group," he added. Prime Minister Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel. Earlier in the day, the Indian PM and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu paid homage to Indian soldiers martyred during World War I at the Haifa Cemetery. At Haifa, paid tributes to the brave Indian soldiers who fought courageously in the First World War. pic.twitter.com/2D7UYKhHwh — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 6, 2017 × Before his departure for Hamburg, Germany for the G20 summit, PM Modi also interacted with Indian students in Tel Aviv. It was great to meet Indian students studying in Israel. pic.twitter.com/DBN4VRnxm0 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 6, 2017 × The Indian prime minister, who was accompanied by his Israeli counterpart throughout, shared pictures from his visit, including one signed by Benjamin Netanyahu. Thank you my friend, PM @netanyahu for the signed photo, your kind words, amazing hospitality & passion towards #IndiaIsraelFriendship. pic.twitter.com/1jUtMG3F85 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 6, 2017 × ??? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ???. ????? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ????-?????. pic.twitter.com/ZeYS3eE4xk — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 6, 2017 × I thank the people and Government of Israel for their hospitality. This successful visit will add more energy to India-Israel relations. pic.twitter.com/sreMPExX9i — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 6, 2017 ×

Indian, Israeli firms sign MoUs worth over $5 billion at Modi's meet with CEOs

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met on Wednesday with &quot;Baby&quot; Moshe in Jerusalem.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Moshe had lost his parents in the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai. He was two years of age at the time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Moshe had been saved by his Indian nanny Sandra Samuel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Moshe is now 11 years old.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Modi met Moshe, his nanny -- who both live in Israel now -- and his grandparents at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Modi offered Moshe a long-term visa, saying he could come visit any time he liked.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was accompanying Modi at the time, said to Moshe that he should accompany him when he visits India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Modi had earlier invited Prime Minister Netanyahu to India. Netanyahu had accepted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;I hope I will be able to visit Mumbai and when I get older, I live there... Dear Mr Modi I love you and the people in India,&quot; Moshe had said to Modi.&nbsp;</p>


'I hope I will be able to visit Mumbai and when I get older, I live there... Dear Mr Modi I love you and the people in India,' Moshe said.?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met on Wednesday with "Baby" Moshe in Jerusalem. Moshe had lost his parents in the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai. He was two years of age at the time. Moshe had been saved by his Indian nanny Sandra Samuel. Moshe is now 11 years old. Modi met Moshe, his nanny -- who both live in Israel now -- and his grandparents at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. Modi offered Moshe a long-term visa, saying he could come visit any time he liked. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was accompanying Modi at the time, said to Moshe that he should accompany him when he visits India. Prime Minister Modi had earlier invited Prime Minister Netanyahu to India. Netanyahu had accepted. "I hope I will be able to visit Mumbai and when I get older, I live there... Dear Mr Modi I love you and the people in India," Moshe had said to Modi.

Moshe says he hopes he can live in India when he gets older

<p>By Deepali Mittal</p>

<p>Reena Pushkarna, the celebrity chef who has introduced Indian food to Israel by opening a chain called Tandoori, has been tasked with cooking for the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi during his visit to&nbsp;Israel.</p>

<p>Exclusive footage inside the kitchen&nbsp;of Reena Pushkarna reveals what is on the menu for the&nbsp;prime minister.</p>

<p>He was introduced to her ginger tea, aka&nbsp;adrak ki chai, yesterday, July 4th, and Pushkarna prepared her special cup of tea for him today too.&nbsp;&quot;We have to have fresh ginger (adrak) all the time,&quot;&nbsp;she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pushkarna selected all the vegetables for Modi&#39;s lunch today herself, saying she always gets fresh food to maintain hygiene and nutritional value of the food.</p>

<p>Pushkarna was born in New Delhi in 1958 to a Sikh father and Jewish mother. She married&nbsp;Vinod Pushkarna, a graduate of the Merchant Marine Officers Training Ship in Bombay Harbour. Vinod served as a seaman for nine years before he and Reena decided to settle down in Israel.</p>

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<p>She went on to say that PM Modi is a man of simple tastes who is satisfied with khichdi and adrak ki chaai (WION)</p>
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The celebrity was born in New Delhi to a Sikh father and Jewish mother.

By Deepali Mittal Reena Pushkarna, the celebrity chef who has introduced Indian food to Israel by opening a chain called Tandoori, has been tasked with cooking for the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Israel. Exclusive footage inside the kitchen of Reena Pushkarna reveals what is on the menu for the prime minister. He was introduced to her ginger tea, aka adrak ki chai, yesterday, July 4th, and Pushkarna prepared her special cup of tea for him today too. "We have to have fresh ginger (adrak) all the time," she said. Pushkarna selected all the vegetables for Modi's lunch today herself, saying she always gets fresh food to maintain hygiene and nutritional value of the food. Pushkarna was born in New Delhi in 1958 to a Sikh father and Jewish mother. She married Vinod Pushkarna, a graduate of the Merchant Marine Officers Training Ship in Bombay Harbour. Vinod served as a seaman for nine years before he and Reena decided to settle down in Israel. She went on to say that PM Modi is a man of simple tastes who is satisfied with khichdi and adrak ki chaai (WION) ×

Reena Pushkarna: The chef cooking for Modi in Israel

<p>India and Israel signed seven agreements on Wednesday after talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The agreements are on water conservation, agriculture, innovation, and space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There were no agreements on defence.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaIsraelFriendship?src=hash">#IndiaIsraelFriendship</a>: Exploring New Realms of Cooperation - the two leaders witnessed the exchange of 7 agreements across sectors <a href="https://t.co/CrJDXascUd">pic.twitter.com/CrJDXascUd</a></p>
&mdash; Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/882566014088642560">July 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;Israel is among the leading nations in the field of innovation, water and agriculture,&quot; said PM Modi at the joint statement the two leaders made.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The two countries also agreed to work together on combating terror.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;We are being challenged by forces of terror. We have agreed to cooperate in this area,&quot; said PM Netanyahu</p>

<p>&quot;India has suffered first-hand the violence and hatred spread by terror, so has Israel,&quot; said PM Modi</p>

<p>&quot;The bonhomie that has been a feature of this visit continued.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;This is a marriage made in heaven but we are implementing it here on earth,&quot; said PM Netanyahu &nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;This is a deeply moving moment for me. We are making history,&quot; he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Modi took on the tone of a global statesman.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Our talks focused on not just areas of bilateral opportunities but also how our cooperation can help cause of global peace and stability,&quot; Modi said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At a ministry of external affairs media briefing after the joint statement, Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar said Israel -- with its expertise in water management, agriculture, and innovation -- was the perfect country for India to partner with.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Israelis, he said, were not only very good at developing new products but also at taking them to market.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Explaining the lack of defence deals -- India is one of the largest buyers of defence equipment from Israel -- Jaishankar said many of those are signed between companies, rather than between countries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


India and Israel signed seven agreements on Wednesday after talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu. The agreements are on water conservation, agriculture, innovation, and space. There were no agreements on defence. #IndiaIsraelFriendship: Exploring New Realms of Cooperation - the two leaders witnessed the exchange of 7 agreements across sectors pic.twitter.com/CrJDXascUd — Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017 × "Israel is among the leading nations in the field of innovation, water and agriculture," said PM Modi at the joint statement the two leaders made. The two countries also agreed to work together on combating terror. "We are being challenged by forces of terror. We have agreed to cooperate in this area," said PM Netanyahu "India has suffered first-hand the violence and hatred spread by terror, so has Israel," said PM Modi "The bonhomie that has been a feature of this visit continued. "This is a marriage made in heaven but we are implementing it here on earth," said PM Netanyahu "This is a deeply moving moment for me. We are making history," he added. Modi took on the tone of a global statesman. "Our talks focused on not just areas of bilateral opportunities but also how our cooperation can help cause of global peace and stability," Modi said. At a ministry of external affairs media briefing after the joint statement, Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar said Israel -- with its expertise in water management, agriculture, and innovation -- was the perfect country for India to partner with. The Israelis, he said, were not only very good at developing new products but also at taking them to market. Explaining the lack of defence deals -- India is one of the largest buyers of defence equipment from Israel -- Jaishankar said many of those are signed between companies, rather than between countries.

India & Israel sign 7 agreements on water, agriculture & innovation, none on defence

<p>As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to visit Israel starting July 4, his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu has said cyber security is one of the key areas of cooperation to be discussed during Modi&rsquo;s visit.<br />
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&quot;Once it was a disadvantage to say that you are from Israel. Today when you talk about cyber or advanced technology, it is an advantage to say we are an Israeli company. The whole world wants us. The whole world is coming here,&quot; Netanyahu said at the Cyber Week 2017 conference in Tel Aviv University.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
&quot;For example, there is going to be a visit of Prime Minister of India, one of the most important prime minister&#39;s of the world, with the third largest economy in the world growing very fast. He wants close cooperation with Israel in many fields -- water, agriculture, health and also in cyber. And he has a good reason to do so,&quot; PTI quoted the Israeli PM as saying.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Modi will be the first Indian PM to visit Israel.</p>

<p>Last week, one of Israel&rsquo;s leading business dailies described Modi as &ldquo;the most important PM of the world&rdquo;.</p>

<p>&quot;Wake up: the most important PM of the world is coming,&quot; business daily The Marker had said.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
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&nbsp;</p>


Netanyahu, speaking at the Cyber Week 2017 conference in Tel Aviv University, said Modi wants close cooperation with Israel in many fields including cyber security

As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to visit Israel starting July 4, his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu has said cyber security is one of the key areas of cooperation to be discussed during Modi’s visit. "Once it was a disadvantage to say that you are from Israel. Today when you talk about cyber or advanced technology, it is an advantage to say we are an Israeli company. The whole world wants us. The whole world is coming here," Netanyahu said at the Cyber Week 2017 conference in Tel Aviv University. "For example, there is going to be a visit of Prime Minister of India, one of the most important prime minister's of the world, with the third largest economy in the world growing very fast. He wants close cooperation with Israel in many fields -- water, agriculture, health and also in cyber. And he has a good reason to do so," PTI quoted the Israeli PM as saying. Modi will be the first Indian PM to visit Israel. Last week, one of Israel’s leading business dailies described Modi as “the most important PM of the world”. "Wake up: the most important PM of the world is coming," business daily The Marker had said.

India, Israel to discuss cooperation in cyber security during Modi's visit: Netanyahu

<p>No Indian Prime Minister has ever visited Israel, but that is about to change when Narendra Modi touches down in Israel July 4.</p>

<p>For two days Modi will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss &quot;all matters of mutual interest&quot;, according to a <a href="http://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/28566/Visit_of_Prime_Minister_to_Israel_July_46_2017" target="_blank">press release</a> from India&#39;s Minister of External Affairs released on June 28.</p>

<p>The itinerary also includes meetings with members of Israel&#39;s Indian community in Tel Aviv, and a stop in a Haifa cemetry to honour Indian soldiers interred on the grounds.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Military, business&nbsp;ties</strong></p>

<p>This april, Israel signed a deal to supply Israel with&nbsp;air and missile defense system&nbsp;worth&nbsp;$2 billion, in what Israel called the &quot;largest defense contract deal&quot; in its history, <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/29/asia/india-modi-israel/index.html" target="_blank">CNN </a>reports.</p>

<p>&quot;As India seeks to modernize and grow its defense capabilities, it could find an able ally in Israel. The two countries see themselves as bulwarks of democracy in a region rife with illiberal leaders,&quot; said the CNN New Delhi Bureau Chief, Ravi Agrawal.</p>

<p>Under Modi&#39;s &quot;Make in India&quot; program, the PM is looking for foreign companies to set up factories in India, and this trip will likely be a chance for Modi to encourage Israeli businesses to do the same, CNN adds.</p>

<p>Watch WION discuss India-Israel trade relations with the head of Israel&#39;s&nbsp;Chamber of Commerce, in this TV&nbsp;interview conducted in Tel Aviv, Israel.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Head of India-Israel Chamber of Commerce speaks to WION (WION)</p>
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<p>In advance of this week&#39;s&nbsp;meeting, Israelis welcomed the Indian Prime Minister in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/watch-israelis-learn-hindi-to-welcome-indian-pm-modi-to-the-country-17506" target="_blank">Hindi</a>.</p>

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PM Modi is likely going to try to attract Israeli business to set up production in Israel under his 'Make in India' program

No Indian Prime Minister has ever visited Israel, but that is about to change when Narendra Modi touches down in Israel July 4. For two days Modi will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss "all matters of mutual interest", according to a press release from India's Minister of External Affairs released on June 28. The itinerary also includes meetings with members of Israel's Indian community in Tel Aviv, and a stop in a Haifa cemetry to honour Indian soldiers interred on the grounds. Military, business ties This april, Israel signed a deal to supply Israel with air and missile defense system worth $2 billion, in what Israel called the "largest defense contract deal" in its history, CNN reports. "As India seeks to modernize and grow its defense capabilities, it could find an able ally in Israel. The two countries see themselves as bulwarks of democracy in a region rife with illiberal leaders," said the CNN New Delhi Bureau Chief, Ravi Agrawal. Under Modi's "Make in India" program, the PM is looking for foreign companies to set up factories in India, and this trip will likely be a chance for Modi to encourage Israeli businesses to do the same, CNN adds. Watch WION discuss India-Israel trade relations with the head of Israel's Chamber of Commerce, in this TV interview conducted in Tel Aviv, Israel. Head of India-Israel Chamber of Commerce speaks to WION (WION) × In advance of this week's meeting, Israelis welcomed the Indian Prime Minister in Hindi.

Modi set to become first Indian PM to visit Israel with his trip this week

<p>One of Israel&rsquo;s leading business dailies has described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as &ldquo;the most important PM of the world&rdquo;.</p>

<p>&quot;Wake up: the most important PM of the world is coming,&quot; business daily <em>The Marker </em>said ahead of Modi&rsquo;s visit to the country from July 4-6.</p>

<p>The Marker, in a feature story on Indo-Israel relations, said the Indian Prime Minister deserves a lot of attention.</p>

<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday stressed the importance of Modi&rsquo;s visit, hailing the visit as a &ldquo;historic step&rdquo;.</p>

<p>&quot;Next week, the Indian Prime Minister, my friend, Narendra Modi will arrive in Israel. This is a historic visit to Israel. In the 70 years of the country&#39;s existence, no Indian Prime Minister has ever visited and this is further expression of the state of Israel&#39;s military, economic and diplomatic strength,&quot; Netanyahu had said.</p>

<p>&quot;This is a very significant step in strengthening relations between the two countries.&rdquo;</p>

<p>This will be the first ever visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Israel.</p>

<p><br />
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'Wake up: the most important PM of the world is coming,' business daily 'The Marker' said ahead of Modi?s visit to the country from July 4-6

One of Israel’s leading business dailies has described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “the most important PM of the world”. "Wake up: the most important PM of the world is coming," business daily The Marker said ahead of Modi’s visit to the country from July 4-6. The Marker, in a feature story on Indo-Israel relations, said the Indian Prime Minister deserves a lot of attention. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday stressed the importance of Modi’s visit, hailing the visit as a “historic step”. "Next week, the Indian Prime Minister, my friend, Narendra Modi will arrive in Israel. This is a historic visit to Israel. In the 70 years of the country's existence, no Indian Prime Minister has ever visited and this is further expression of the state of Israel's military, economic and diplomatic strength," Netanyahu had said. "This is a very significant step in strengthening relations between the two countries.” This will be the first ever visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Israel.

Israeli daily says Modi 'most important PM of the world'

<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Jerusalem will always be the capital of the Jewish state, speaking ahead of a visit by US President Donald Trump.</p>

<p>&quot;Tonight, I say to the whole world and in the clearest way possible, Jerusalem was and will always be the capital of Israel,&quot; Netanyahu said in front of thousands of concert-goers.</p>

<p>&quot;The Temple Mount and the Western Wall will always remain under Israeli sovereignty.&quot;</p>

<p>The Western Wall is the last remnant of the supporting wall of the second Jewish temple, built by King Herod and destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.</p>

<p>The holiest site where Jews can pray, it is in the Old City of east Jerusalem, which Israel occupied in 1967 and later annexed in a move not recognised by the international community.</p>

<p>It is situated below the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, Islam&#39;s third holiest site, referred to by Jews as the Temple Mount.</p>

<p>Trump is on Monday expected to become the first sitting US president to visit the Western Wall.</p>

<p>Netanyahu was speaking at festivities marking the 50th anniversary of Israel&#39;s conquest of east Jerusalem in the Six-Day War.</p>

<p>Preparations for Trump&#39;s visit have led to criticism from Israeli right-wingers after US officials declined to say whether the Western Wall was part of Israel.</p>

<p>The legal and diplomatic status of Jerusalem is one of the key points in the Middle East conflict.</p>

<p>Israel considers the entire city to be its eternal and indivisible capital, but the Palestinians want east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.</p>

<p>(AFP)</p>


'Tonight, I say to the whole world and in the clearest way possible, Jerusalem was and will always be the capital of Israel,' Netanyahu said in front of thousands of concert-goers

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Jerusalem will always be the capital of the Jewish state, speaking ahead of a visit by US President Donald Trump. "Tonight, I say to the whole world and in the clearest way possible, Jerusalem was and will always be the capital of Israel," Netanyahu said in front of thousands of concert-goers. "The Temple Mount and the Western Wall will always remain under Israeli sovereignty." The Western Wall is the last remnant of the supporting wall of the second Jewish temple, built by King Herod and destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. The holiest site where Jews can pray, it is in the Old City of east Jerusalem, which Israel occupied in 1967 and later annexed in a move not recognised by the international community. It is situated below the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, Islam's third holiest site, referred to by Jews as the Temple Mount. Trump is on Monday expected to become the first sitting US president to visit the Western Wall. Netanyahu was speaking at festivities marking the 50th anniversary of Israel's conquest of east Jerusalem in the Six-Day War. Preparations for Trump's visit have led to criticism from Israeli right-wingers after US officials declined to say whether the Western Wall was part of Israel. The legal and diplomatic status of Jerusalem is one of the key points in the Middle East conflict. Israel considers the entire city to be its eternal and indivisible capital, but the Palestinians want east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. (AFP)

Jerusalem will always be Israel's capital: Benjamin Netanyahu

<p>More than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails started a hunger strike on Monday&nbsp;Aprill 17, the Palestinian Prisoners Day, demanding better detention conditions. They request to be allowed&nbsp;more family visits, an&nbsp;end to to be put to both solitary confinement and&nbsp;the practice of detention without trial, and&nbsp;more access to healthcare and education.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One&nbsp;major issue&nbsp;facing&nbsp;Palestinian prisoners from Gaza and West Bank in jails located inside Israel&rsquo;s borders is that they don&#39;t get&nbsp;easy and regular access to their&nbsp;families. Due to security procedures, crossing the many checkpoints dividing Palestinian territories and Israel is not easy, or is&nbsp;refused altogether. At times it happens that family members who are willing to meet their relatives do not reach in time or are not allowed to cross, resulting in a senseless psychological stress both for them and the detainees. The human rights focused NGO Amnesty International recently issued a <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/04/israel-must-end-unlawful-and-cruel-policies-towards-palestinian-prisoners/" target="_blank">report </a>on this matter.</p>

<p>Shortly after the beginning of the hunger strike, thousands of Palestinian activists demonstrated in several cities to show their support to the inmates&rsquo; cause. The biggest solidarity demonstration was held in Ramallah, where some 2,000 people took to the street.</p>

<p>Palestinian inmates declared that the hunger strike won&rsquo;t end until the prisons&rsquo; management&nbsp;meets all their requests. Their protest is expected to involve more than 2,000 detainees.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Palestinian political prisoners. (WION)</p>
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<p>The strike was called by&nbsp;Marwan Barghouti--a 58-year-old prominent member of Fatah&nbsp;who led the first and the second intifada and is currently serving five life sentences for murder.</p>

<p>Reuters reported that after the beginning of the strike, Barghouti was moved to another jail and held in solitary confinement. The New York Times informed that not only was he&nbsp;accused of&nbsp;leading&nbsp;the protest, he has also been accused of smuggling out a pamphlet which they decided to carry as an <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/16/opinion/palestinian-hunger-strike-prisoners-call-for-justice.html?_r=0" target="_blank">opinion piece</a>. Barghouti&rsquo;s document explains his&nbsp;reasons behind the protest.</p>

<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented scathingly on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, saying that&nbsp;&ldquo;calling Barghouti a &#39;political leader&#39; is like calling Assad a &#39;pediatrician&#39;. They are murderers and terrorists. We will never lose our sense of clarity because we are on the side of justice and they are on the side that is neither just nor moral&rdquo;.</p>

<p>The Israeli public security minister Gilad Erdan denied&nbsp;any allegation of mistreating&nbsp;prisoners, and declared that the hunger strike is &quot;prompted by internal Palestinian politics and therefore includes unreasonable demands.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Israel&rsquo;s foreign ministry went even further, stating that &quot;the Palestinian prisoners are not political prisoners. They are convicted terrorists and murderers. They were brought to justice and are treated properly under international law&rdquo;.</p>

<p>Under Israeli prison law, voluntarily refusing food is a punishable offence and a hunger strike is considered an illegal action. The Israeli outlet&nbsp;Haaretz published a statement&nbsp;by the country&rsquo;s prison service, saying: &ldquo;The Israel Prison Service has a great deal of experience in coping with hunger strikes, and it has the ways and the means to deal with them. It should be noted that the Prison Service does not conduct negotiations with prisoners.&rdquo;</p>

<p>The detainees&rsquo; political action comes at a critical time for Israel, which will witness the 50th anniversary of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip occupation in June. The&nbsp;Palestinian authority&nbsp;has said&nbsp;that&nbsp;the hunger strike is uniting prisoners from the two rival factions of Fatah and Hamas, which is currently governing the Gaza Strip.</p>

<p>Palestinian President and Hamas leader Mahmoud Abbas declared that his organisation has all the intention to support the prisoner&rsquo;s struggle, which is among their top priorities.</p>

<p>The inmates&rsquo; unity is most likely due to the high consideration&nbsp;Barghouti enjoys among the Palestinian population. Many see him as capable of dethroning the 82-year-old Mahmoud Abbas and running as the next presidential candidate. This strike could definitely help Barghouti to strengthen his position in order to gather consensus for the next election and end the Hamas-led government.</p>

<p>Given all the implications, the strike seems destined to last long.</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


More than 1,000 inmates are on the strike called by Marwan Barghouti?who is serving 5 life sentences for murder?demanding better conditions

More than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails started a hunger strike on Monday Aprill 17, the Palestinian Prisoners Day, demanding better detention conditions. They request to be allowed more family visits, an end to to be put to both solitary confinement and the practice of detention without trial, and more access to healthcare and education. One major issue facing Palestinian prisoners from Gaza and West Bank in jails located inside Israel’s borders is that they don't get easy and regular access to their families. Due to security procedures, crossing the many checkpoints dividing Palestinian territories and Israel is not easy, or is refused altogether. At times it happens that family members who are willing to meet their relatives do not reach in time or are not allowed to cross, resulting in a senseless psychological stress both for them and the detainees. The human rights focused NGO Amnesty International recently issued a report on this matter. Shortly after the beginning of the hunger strike, thousands of Palestinian activists demonstrated in several cities to show their support to the inmates’ cause. The biggest solidarity demonstration was held in Ramallah, where some 2,000 people took to the street. Palestinian inmates declared that the hunger strike won’t end until the prisons’ management meets all their requests. Their protest is expected to involve more than 2,000 detainees. Palestinian political prisoners. (WION) × The strike was called by Marwan Barghouti--a 58-year-old prominent member of Fatah who led the first and the second intifada and is currently serving five life sentences for murder. Reuters reported that after the beginning of the strike, Barghouti was moved to another jail and held in solitary confinement. The New York Times informed that not only was he accused of leading the protest, he has also been accused of smuggling out a pamphlet which they decided to carry as an opinion piece. Barghouti’s document explains his reasons behind the protest. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented scathingly on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, saying that “calling Barghouti a 'political leader' is like calling Assad a 'pediatrician'. They are murderers and terrorists. We will never lose our sense of clarity because we are on the side of justice and they are on the side that is neither just nor moral”. The Israeli public security minister Gilad Erdan denied any allegation of mistreating prisoners, and declared that the hunger strike is "prompted by internal Palestinian politics and therefore includes unreasonable demands.” Israel’s foreign ministry went even further, stating that "the Palestinian prisoners are not political prisoners. They are convicted terrorists and murderers. They were brought to justice and are treated properly under international law”. Under Israeli prison law, voluntarily refusing food is a punishable offence and a hunger strike is considered an illegal action. The Israeli outlet Haaretz published a statement by the country’s prison service, saying: “The Israel Prison Service has a great deal of experience in coping with hunger strikes, and it has the ways and the means to deal with them. It should be noted that the Prison Service does not conduct negotiations with prisoners.” The detainees’ political action comes at a critical time for Israel, which will witness the 50th anniversary of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip occupation in June. The Palestinian authority has said that the hunger strike is uniting prisoners from the two rival factions of Fatah and Hamas, which is currently governing the Gaza Strip. Palestinian President and Hamas leader Mahmoud Abbas declared that his organisation has all the intention to support the prisoner’s struggle, which is among their top priorities. The inmates’ unity is most likely due to the high consideration Barghouti enjoys among the Palestinian population. Many see him as capable of dethroning the 82-year-old Mahmoud Abbas and running as the next presidential candidate. This strike could definitely help Barghouti to strengthen his position in order to gather consensus for the next election and end the Hamas-led government. Given all the implications, the strike seems destined to last long. (WION)

Palestinians in Israeli jails start hunger strike