Jerusalem, February 25: The Israeli Parliament resonated with chants of Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s name as Israeli lawmakers stood to greet him, followed by a warm welcome from the Speaker in Hindi. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the stage to honor Modi, referring to him as more than just a friend, but a brother. He spoke of the ‘Modi hug’ and reminisced about a walk by the river where they had discussed walking barefoot together.
Netanyahu expressed his joy at Modi’s visit, stating, “I must tell you, Narendra, my dear friend, I am very, very happy to have you here today. I have never been as happy as I am to welcome a great friend of Israel, a champion of the India-Israel alliance, and a great leader on the world stage. Welcome to Jerusalem, my dear friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and your special delegation.”
He further added, “I would dare to say that you are more than a friend; you are my brother. The last time you were here, we were both on the Mediterranean coast, and I suggested we take off our shoes and walk into the water… We did not walk on water, but since then we have performed miracles. We have doubled our trade, tripled our cooperation, and quadrupled our understanding.”
Netanyahu also recalled the special moments at the airport on Wednesday, where he and his wife Sara welcomed Modi with a heartfelt embrace, experiencing what the world calls the ‘Modi hug.’
During his speech in Parliament, Netanyahu referred to Modi as Israel’s great friend, expressing pride in his visit. He concluded with a heartfelt thanks, saying, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart, PM Modi.”
Earlier, the Speaker of the Israeli Parliament, Amir Ohana, welcomed PM Modi in Hindi, stating, “Welcome to Jerusalem. Today, as the Speaker of the Knesset, I have the privilege of welcoming India’s first Prime Minister addressing our Parliament, making history once again.”