Modi Addresses Knesset 2026: India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership, 16 MoUs & Iron Dome

On February 25, Modi addressed a special plenary session of the Knesset — Israel’s unicameral parliament in Jerusalem. This was the first time any Indian Prime Minister had ever addressed the Israeli parliament, making it one of the most symbolically significant moments in the 75+ year history of India-Israel engagement.

Modi received a standing ovation from Knesset members. The opposition staged a brief walkout — not directed at Modi, but as part of a domestic protest against Netanyahu’s government over a judicial row. Opposition leader Yair Lapid personally assured Modi: “Our boycott is not about you.” In recognition of his address, Modi was conferred the prestigious Speaker of the Knesset Medal.

Modi opened by describing himself as “a representative of one ancient civilisation addressing another,” invoking the shared civilisational depth of India and Israel. He condemned the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack as “barbaric”, saying: “We feel your pain. We share your grief. No cause can justify the murder of civilians.” He drew a direct parallel to India’s own experience, referencing the 2008 Mumbai attacks and stating India’s “zero tolerance for terrorism with no double standard.” He called Israel “a protective wall against barbarism” and pledged an “iron alliance” against extremist terrorism.

Netanyahu’s response was equally emphatic: “You are more than a friend. You are a brother.” He highlighted that Israel stood with India during Operation Sindoor — India’s military action against terror infrastructure — signalling the two-way nature of the strategic relationship.

On February 26, Modi and Netanyahu visited Yad Vashem — the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem — beginning in the Hall of Names. Modi laid a wreath at the memorial ceremony and placed a stone, following the Jewish tradition of remembrance. He posted: “The Holocaust stands as one of humanity’s darkest chapters.”

Modi then met Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the Presidential Residence, where Herzog planted an oak tree — a symbol of friendship and shared future — with Modi at the residence grounds.

The diplomatic centrepiece of Day 2 was the signing of 16 agreements across defence, agriculture, education, labour, geosciences, maritime heritage, and culture — overseen by both Prime Ministers at a joint press conference in Jerusalem.

Defence and Security — The Headline Deal. The most strategically significant outcome was the agreement to share technical details of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system with India — elevating the relationship from buyer-seller to genuine technological partnership and potential co-production under Make in India. India has been developing its own Multi-Layered Air Defence systems, and Iron Dome technology would be a major addition to this architecture.

Labour. An agreement allowing 50,000 Indian workers in Israel over the next five years, addressing Israel’s acute labour shortage in construction and agriculture sectors — exacerbated by the displacement of Palestinian workers since October 2023.

Agriculture. MoU between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and MASHAV (Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation) to establish the India-Israel Innovation Centre for Agriculture (IINCA) — focusing on drip irrigation, precision agriculture, and drought-resistant crops.

Education. MoU between Nalanda University (Bihar) and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem for academic cooperation. A separate MoU on advancing education through Artificial Intelligence.

Geosciences. MoU between India’s Ministry of Mines and Israel’s Ministry of Energy on cooperation in geophysical exploration — relevant to India’s critical minerals strategy.

Maritime Heritage. MoU between India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Israel’s Antiquities Authority — Underwater Archaeology Unit — for the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat.

Parliamentary Ties. Establishment of the India-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Parliament of India, following an MoU between the speakers of the Lok Sabha and the Knesset.

A critical strategic thread running through the visit was Netanyahu’s reiteration of Israel’s commitment to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) — the US-backed logistics corridor announced at the G20 New Delhi Summit in 2023. IMEC envisions a shipping route from India → UAE → Saudi Arabia → Jordan → Israel → Mediterranean → Europe. Israel is a critical node — the transit point between the Middle East land leg and the Mediterranean Sea leg.

IMEC directly competes with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as an alternative connectivity architecture for Asia-Europe trade. Netanyahu’s reaffirmation of IMEC amid the Gaza conflict disruptions signals Israel’s commitment to this broader strategic vision — and India’s expanding role in West Asian security architecture.

India and Israel’s relationship has a complex history. India voted against Israel’s UN membership in 1949 and was among countries opposed to Israel’s creation in 1948. Full diplomatic relations were not established until 1992 — a product of India’s post-Cold War foreign policy liberalisation.

Since Modi came to power in 2014, the relationship has transformed dramatically. Modi’s 2017 visit was the first by an Indian PM to Israel. India has become Israel’s second-largest trading partner in Asia (after China) and its largest arms buyer globally — with $20.5 billion in arms purchases between 2020 and 2024 alone, covering drones, surveillance systems, missiles, and cybersecurity.

India’s position on the Gaza conflict has been a source of international criticism. India has abstained on several UN resolutions critical of Israel and has been reluctant to directly condemn Israeli military operations. Modi’s Knesset speech — unambiguous in its support for Israel — drew criticism from opposition parties at home and from countries with large Muslim populations.

The Modi-Knesset visit marks a qualitative shift in the India-Israel relationship on three dimensions. First, defence co-production: moving from being Israel’s largest buyer to a potential Iron Dome co-manufacturer signals India’s arrival as a genuine defence technology partner, not just a customer. Second, multilateral architecture: India’s deepening ties with Israel reinforce the India-Israel-US triangular alignment on counterterrorism, Iran policy, and China’s rise — all three governments currently share significant convergence on these issues. Third, connectivity: IMEC cannot work without Israel, and Modi’s visit reaffirms India’s commitment to this alternative to BRI.

Netanyahu’s explicit reference to Israel standing with India during Operation Sindoor is also significant — it confirms that the relationship has moved into genuine security solidarity territory, beyond transactional arms deals.