Jerusalem, Israel: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed the Israeli Parliament during the first day of his two-day official visit to Israel, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to deliver an address to the legislature.

Prime Minister Modi received a warm welcome from members of the Israeli Parliament. Expressing his gratitude, he stated that it was an honour to address the House and highlighted the deep-rooted ties between the two nations. He noted that this marked his second visit to Israel and described the bilateral relationship as one built on shared civilizational values and strong people-to-people connections.

Referring to India’s population of 140 crore citizens, the Prime Minister emphasized that India’s friendship with Israel reflects the collective goodwill of the Indian people. He described both India and Israel as ancient civilizations with enduring democratic traditions.

During his address, Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s uncompromising stance against terrorism. He stated that India has been combating terrorism for decades and will continue to cooperate with the international community to eliminate the menace in all its forms. He stressed that the killing of civilians, including recent incidents attributed to Hamas, is unacceptable under any circumstances and called upon the global community to unite in the fight against terrorism.

Earlier in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the Parliament and warmly welcomed the Indian leader. Netanyahu described Prime Minister Modi as “more than a friend” and referred to him as a brother. He praised Modi’s leadership and acknowledged India’s rapid development under his governance, stating that the relationship between India and Israel is deeply significant and continues to grow stronger.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit is seen as another milestone in strengthening strategic, diplomatic, and security cooperation between India and Israel.