No cause can justify terrorism; India stands firmly with Israel: Modi at Knesset
New Delhi, February 25. Addressing Israel’s Parliament Knesset on February 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described his speech as one “from one ancient civilisation to another,” carrying “a message of friendship, respect, and partnership” from 1.4 billion Indians.
Opening with “Shalom” and “Namaste,” Modi expressed solidarity with Israel over the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, saying, “We feel your pain. We share your grief. India stands with Israel, firmly, with full conviction.”
He underscored India’s uncompromising stand against terror:
“No cause can justify the murder of civilians. Nothing can justify terrorism.”
Recalling the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, he stressed a policy of “zero tolerance for terrorism, with no double standards”.
Drawing parallels with India’s own experience, including the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, he reaffirmed New Delhi’s doctrine of “zero tolerance for terrorism, with no double standards”. Terrorism, he warned, seeks to destabilise societies and erode trust, and therefore requires sustained, coordinated global action because “terror anywhere threatens peace everywhere.”
While expressing strong solidarity with Israel, Modi also emphasised the need for a durable regional peace. He recalled India’s support for the Abraham Accords, describing them as a moment of “new hope for a long-troubled region”. Acknowledging that circumstances have since become more complex, he stressed that “it is important to sustain that hope.”
He voiced support for the Gaza Peace Initiative endorsed by the UN Security Council, calling it “a pathway” that holds the promise of “a just and durable peace for all the people of the region”, including through addressing the Palestinian issue.
“The road to peace is not always easy,” he said, urging all sides to act with “wisdom, courage, and humanity”.
Modi devoted a significant portion of his address to the civilisational links between India and the Jewish people. Citing references in the Book of Esther and the Talmud, he noted that Jewish traders had travelled to India over two millennia ago and found opportunity and dignity. Jewish communities in India, he said, lived “without fear of persecution or discrimination”, preserving their faith while participating fully in society – “a source of pride for us”.
He highlighted the contributions of communities such as the Bene Israel, Kochini Jews, Baghdadi Jews and Bnei Menashe, as well as individuals who shaped India’s cultural and institutional landscape. He also paid tribute to Lt Gen JFR Jacob for his role in the 1971 war.
The Prime Minister underscored that India’s connection to the land of Israel is also marked by sacrifice. More than 4,000 Indian soldiers died in the region during World War I, including in the famed 1918 cavalry charge at Haifa. Modi recalled paying homage at the Haifa memorial during his earlier visit.
Projecting a forward-looking agenda, Modi said India – “the fastest-growing major economy in the world” – and innovation-driven Israel form “a natural foundation for a forward-looking partnership”.
He expressed confidence that India would soon be among the top three global economies, creating new synergies with Israel’s technology leadership.
He highlighted expanding trade and investment flows, the Bilateral Investment Treaty signed in 2025, and ongoing negotiations for an ambitious Free Trade Agreement to unlock “vast untapped potential”.
Cooperation frameworks such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and I2U2 were cited as additional pillars of engagement.
Defence and security, Modi said, remain a crucial pillar. Referring to the defence cooperation MoU signed in November, Modi stressed that in an uncertain world, stronger defence ties between trusted partners are of “vital importance”.
Calling Israel the “startup nation”, Modi pointed to growing collaboration in innovation. He recalled inaugurating the iCreate Technology Business Incubator with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2018, which has since supported hundreds of startups.
He identified quantum technologies, semiconductors and artificial intelligence as areas of “natural synergy”, and highlighted cooperation in digital public infrastructure and cross-border financial linkages.
Agriculture was another success story. Israeli expertise in precision irrigation and water management has transformed farming practices in India. Forty-three Centres of Excellence have already trained over half a million farmers, and Modi proposed expanding them to 100 to benefit millions more, including fishermen.
Emphasising the human dimension of ties, Modi noted the growing popularity of yoga and Ayurveda in Israel and invited more young Israelis to visit India. He praised Indian caregivers and skilled workers in Israel for their dedication, including during times of crisis.
Drawing philosophical parallels, he compared Israel’s principle of ‘Tikkun Olam’ – healing the world – with India’s ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – the world is one family. Judaism’s Halakha and Hinduism’s Dharma, he said, both guide ethical conduct through action. He also cited similarities in festivals – Hanukkah and Diwali, Purim and Holi – as reflections of shared cultural spirit.
Concluding, Modi described India and Israel as democracies “shaped by history and focused on the future”.
This partnership, he said, “not only serves national interests but also contributes to global stability and prosperity”.
He ended with a message of enduring solidarity: “Let us ensure that the friendship between India and Israel remains a source of strength in an uncertain world.”
Earlier in the day, in a special gesture, on arrival at the airport in Tel Aviv, Modi was received by Netanyahu and his spouse Sara Netanyahu and accorded a ceremonial welcome.
Following the arrival ceremony, the two Prime Ministers held a brief one-on-one meeting. At the hotel, Modi was accorded a warm and enthusiastic welcome by the members of the Indian community and the representatives of the Jewish Indian diaspora. The reception was marked by cultural performances by Indian and Israeli artistes.
–ENDS
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