Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his party’s decisive victory in India’s general election, expressing optimism for the advancement of Indo-Israeli relations to new heights.
Following the results across all Lok Sabha constituencies, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 240 seats out of 543, while the Congress party won 99 seats. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance comfortably surpassed the majority threshold of 272 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha.
“I extend my warmest congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his reelection for a third consecutive term. May the friendship between India and Israel continue to reach new heights. Badhaai Ho!” Netanyahu tweeted on the social media platform X.
Modi made history as the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1992. His landmark visit in July 2017, separate from traditional regional affiliations, was significant for reshaping India’s stance on the Israel-Palestine issue and pursuing a balanced approach.
Subsequently, Modi visited the West Bank, underscoring India’s commitment to strengthening ties with Palestine alongside its engagement with Israel.
Netanyahu’s close rapport with Modi garnered significant attention in Israel, with their personal chemistry often making headlines. A viral image of the two leaders walking barefoot along an Israeli beach underscored their camaraderie.
