PM Narendra Modi will break protocol, to receive Benjamin Netanyahu at airport

NEW DELHI: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to India, beginning on Sunday, will be full of the little touches that will showcase his growing friendship with Indian host, Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

PM Modi will break protocol to receive Netanyahu and his wife Sara at the airport on Sunday afternoon to set off a prime ministerial visit from Israel 15 years since Ariel Sharon came here in 2003. Modi will be returning a compliment—Netanyahu not only received him at the airport in July, the Indian PM was accorded the kind of welcome by every religious sect that is reserved for the Pope and US President, officials had said.

The first stop for Modi and Netanyahu will be a drive to Teen Murti monument where the two leaders will lay a wreath, commemorating the role of three Indian regiments which fought the battle of Haifa over a century ago. It will be formally renamed the Teen Murti Haifa Chowk and Teen Murti Marg will be known as Teen Murti Haifa Marg.

The three bronze statues positioned in a column at the roundabout represent Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers which were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade. On 23rd September 1918, during the last months of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of the First World War, the brigade successfully captured the city of Haifa from joint forces of Ottomans, Germany and the Austro-Hungarian empire. The capture of Haifa and Acre cleared a route for the Allies to send supplies to the city through the sea, though 44 Indian soldiers died in the assault. Till date, the 61st Cavalry celebrates 23rd September as its Raising Day or “Haifa Day”.

During his visit to Israel in July, Modi had laid wreaths at the Indian war cemetery in Haifa and unveiled a plaque commemorating the memory of Major Dalpat Singh who led the successful cavalry charge during the battle.

Netanyahu’s first official meeting will be with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. Modi will host Netanyahu for a quiet personal dinner on Sunday night. During his three days in Israel, Indian delicacies were cooked up for Modi by an Israeli chef of Indian origin, a personal favourite of the Israeli PM.

Monday will see the main official component of the visit with all the pomp that India lays out for vists by heads of government. After the ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Netanyahu will hold restricted discussions with Modi (including only key officials on either side) which will subsequently open up to a full delegation-level meeting and an official lunch. This will be followed by business summits and a call-on with President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The agreements and MoUs, sources said, will reflect a “people connect”, as emphasised by Israeli ambassador Daniel Carmon, covering agriculture, innovation, water management etc. The strategic and defence components have been a strong part of India-Israel relations for some time. After some embarrassing confusion by the defence ministry cancelling a Spike missile contract with Rafael Industries of Israel, sources here said the deal was back on track as a government-to-government contract, in the manner of the Rafale fighter deal.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu and his wife will fly to Agra for a visit to the Taj Mahal. In the evening, he will also deliver the keynote address at the Raisina Dialogue.