Tel Aviv, February 26. Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for home on Thursday after completing his two-day historic tour of Israel. On the occasion of PM Modi’s farewell, Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu bid farewell in a heart-touching manner.
Thank you Israel, for the warmth and affection.
Deeply touched that Prime Minister Netanyahu and Mrs. Netanyahu personally came to the airport to see me off.
Confident that the India–Israel partnership will continue to reach new heights in the years to come.@netanyahu pic.twitter.com/TgGsIsXOJY
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 26, 2026
PM Modi and Netanyahu warmly hugged each other and talked to each other at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. After that PM Modi boarded the plane. Earlier in the day, talks were held between PM Modi and Netanyahu, in which both the leaders agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to ‘Special Strategic Partnership’. The two leaders also discussed giving new direction and momentum to India-Israel cooperation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed Israel after a successful visit.
Sara and I were glad to bid farewell to our friend. Thank you for your visit and your friendship – safe travels home.
True friendship.
@narendramodi pic.twitter.com/tE7iDKd7ig
— Benjamin Netanyahu February 26, 2026
PM Modi posted on social media platform X, ‘Today’s conversation with PM Netanyahu was very beneficial. We have taken a historic decision to elevate our time-tested partnership to a Special Strategic Partnership. This decision reflects the aspirations of the people of both the countries.
He further said, “We discussed giving new direction and greater momentum to our cooperation, including economic and trade relations. We have decided to establish ‘Critical and Emerging Technologies Partnership’, which will accelerate cooperation in many advanced technological areas of the future.”
Today’s discussions with PM Netanyahu were very fruitful. We’ve taken a historic decision to elevate our time-tested partnership to a Special Strategic Partnership. This decision reflects the aspirations of the people of both countries.@netanyahu pic.twitter.com/zXJr2re3Mb
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 26, 2026
PM Modi also described agriculture as an important area where both the countries are working together. He wrote on Twitter, ‘Agriculture is an important area where India and Israel are working together. In today’s talks, it was decided to increase the number of Centers of Excellence to 100. Farmers will benefit greatly from this.
During the tour, PM Modi also met the cast of the Jewish espionage thriller series ‘Fauda’. While sharing a selfie with the cast, she jokingly wrote, ‘It’s good that just one selfie was enough for this meeting, no undercover work had to be done! Fauda.’
Thankfully, this interaction required only a selfie, no undercover work! #Fauda pic.twitter.com/u1tqG3RztB
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 26, 2026
Met President Herzog, invited to visit India
Before this, at the beginning of the second day, PM Modi met Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The two leaders discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the areas of education, start-ups, innovation, technology and connectivity. PM Modi and President Herzog also planted a sapling in the garden of Rashtrapati Bhavan under the ‘One Tree in Mother’s Name’ initiative.
Glimpses from the meeting with President Herzog. Our talks were extremely fruitful and wide ranging.@Isaac_Herzog pic.twitter.com/1dVN5fTI9I
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 26, 2026
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said PM Modi expressed his gratitude to President Herzog for his support in strengthening the India-Israel Special Partnership and invited him to visit India in the near future.
Before meeting President Herzog, PM Modi visited the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Memorial Center in Jerusalem and paid tribute to the memory of the Holocaust victims. During this time, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Yad Vashem President Danny Dayan were also present with him. They toured the Holocaust Memorial and Museum, which includes the ‘Book of Names’, a massive installation that records the names of 4.8 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. PM Modi also participated in the commemoration ceremony held at the ‘Hall of Remembrance’ and signed the guest book.
On Wednesday, the first day of the tour, PM Modi addressed the special plenary session of the Israeli Parliament ‘Knesset’, which was the first such address by an Indian Prime Minister.
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