The visit of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett scheduled for early next week has been postponed after he tested positive for COVID–19, the Israel Embassy announced on Tuesday. In a telephonic conversation with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Gantz, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wished for the speedy recovery of Mr. Bennett.
“The visit has been postponed and will be rescheduled. We are working with our Indian partners on another date for the visit as part of the celebrations of 30 years of diplomatic relations between the countries as well as 75 years of India’s Independence. Israel will continue to strengthen its robust friendship and growing partnership with the people of India,” Naor Gilon, Israeli Ambassador to India, said in a statement.
In the midst of a flurry of visits from the West to New Delhi in the backdrop of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, Mr. Bennett was scheduled to arrive on a three–day visit from April 3. Earlier this month on March 5, he made a surprise visit to Moscow and discussed the war on Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin and later spoke to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky over the telephone.
Mr. Gantz who was also scheduled to visit India from March 30-31, informed Mr. Singh that it has been postponed due to “some unavoidable reasons” and new dates will be worked out through diplomatic channels, a Defence Ministry statement said.
Mr. Singh said on social media that in the telephonic conversation with Mr. Gantz, he shared condolences on loss of innocent lives due to terror attacks in Israel. “Terrorism is a global menace which has no place in today’s civilised world,” he said.
“Both the countries look forward to further strengthen the bilateral relations as India–Israel complete 30 years of full diplomatic relations. Defence cooperation is the founding pillar of our strategic partnership. Military and industry cooperation has been on an upward swing,” Mr. Singh said.
Two police officers were killed on Sunday in an attack by two gunmen in the Northern city of Hadera for which the Islamic State claimed responsibility in a statement posted on its Telegram account. The two gunmen were neutralised by Israeli counter–terrorism force.
