Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu to start India trip from Ahmedabad

NEW DELHI: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to become the third global leader after Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe to begin his India trip from Ahmedabad.

PM Narendra Modi, who was given a rousing welcome on his arrival at Tel Aviv in July, is expected to receive his Israeli counterpart in Ahmedabad next month on January 14.

Netanyahu is scheduled to hold substantial meetings in Delhi on January 15-16 followed by a possible trip to Mumbai on January 17 that may include a visit to the Jewish Chabad House that was attacked by Lashkar-e-Taiba militants on November 26, 2008, according to people aware of the matter.

They said that Netanyahu, who is due to head back to Israel on January 18, may also visit Agra.

This will be the second visit to India by an Israeli PM since Ariel Sharon’s trip in 2003. “In the past year, I have visited all continents besides Antarctica. And in January, I will make a reciprocal visit to my dear good friend, Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, whose population is a significant part of humanity,” Netanyahu said at the opening of the Knessets (Israeli parliament) winter session in October.