Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in the Indian capital six months after his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, visited Israel becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do so.
- During his six-day visit, Netanyahu will visit Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Agra as well as meet Indian President Ram Nath Kovind.
- This visit will strengthen the close ties between the two countries.
- Both the Prime Ministers visited the central square in the Indian capital where there is a memorial to Indian soldiers who took part in the battle to liberate Haifa from the Turks in 1918.
- The name of the square will now be changed to Teen Murti Chowk Haifa which until now has been known as Teen Murti Chowk. The idea of renaming the Teen Murti road and chowk after Haifa was proposed in the NDMC (New Delhi Municipal Corporation).
- The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade.
- September 23 is the day commemorated by the Indian Army as Haifa Day to commemorate the Indian soldiers who fell to liberate Haifa. The Indian mounted cavalry units captured Haifa, which was a fortified town, in a daylight cavalry charge.
- Even during Modi’s visit to Israel in July, Modi paid a visit to the Indian military cemetery in Haifa.
- Moreover the bonhomie seen between the two prime Ministers at the press conference showed that the ties between the two countries are still intact despite India’s vote in favour of a United Nations resolution opposing the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
- Modi called on Israeli defence firms to invest in India following liberalized rules for foreign investment. India's decision to cancel a $500 million anti-tank missiles deal with Israel earlier this month was not mentioned.
- Both leaders said that cooperation in areas such as agriculture, science and technology and security were the new priorities.
- New Delhi is seeking Israeli expertise to boost farm production and improve water management.
Expected Questions
Name the Israeli Prime Minister who visited India in January 2018?
a. Berel Netanyahu
b. Benyamin Netanyahu
c. Benjamin Netanyahu
d. Barnabe Netanyahu
After which Israeli city has Delhi's Teen Murti Chowk been named?
a. Haifa
b. Eilat
c. Safed
d. Acre
Indian soldiers participated in a battle to liberate Israeli city Haifa from
a Egypt
b. Britain
c. Russia
d. Turkey
