Home Minister Rajnath Singh to arrive in Israel today

JERUSALEM: India's security ties with Israel, including cooperation in counter terrorism, are expected to receive a major fillip during Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit here.

Singh was scheduled to arrive here today morning but had to reschedule his plans after his flight from Monaco was cancelled due to stormy weather. The minister was in Monaco to attend Interpol's General Assembly.

Despite the unexpected change in plans, the Israeli government has gone out of the way to accommodate the Indian home minister and the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office was quick to reschedule his meeting with the premier tomorrow.

"India is a very important ally for us and we view the home minister's visit as very significant. We are looking forward to fruitful discussions that will strengthen cooperation between the two countries", a senior government source told.

Singh was scheduled to meet Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Premier Netanyahu and Defence Minister Moshe Ya'alon today in a rare gesture reserved for leaders from most friendly or strategic countries.

It will be the first visit of an Indian home minister to Israel since June, 2000 when L K Advani visited Jerusalem, marking an upsurge in bilateral cooperation.

The home minister's visit comes close on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Netanyahu on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
During that meeting, Netanyahu had said that "sky is the limit" in terms of prospects of cooperation between the two countries, seeking "greater and greater" ties with India.

Netanyahu was among the first global leaders to call Modi to congratulate him on his victory in the general election.

Singh will also be meeting Israel's Minister of Public Security, Yitzhak Aharonovich, and National Security Adviser, Yossi Cohen, who would accompany him on a helicopter tour of bordering areas.

India and Israel have signed three agreements related to homeland security which covers important areas such as cooperation in preventing organised crime, human trafficking, cyber crimes, money laundering, counter-terrorism and fight against spread of fake currency notes.