Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drew attention during a private dinner meeting by wearing a traditional Indian jacket while greeting Narendra Modi. With a warm posture and open arms, Netanyahu welcomed PM Modi ahead of the dinner hosted in Israel.
The gesture was widely interpreted as a symbolic expression of the close relationship between India and Israel.
According to a report by India Today, observers noted that it reflected not only the expanding diplomatic and defence cooperation between the two countries but also the personal rapport shared by the two leaders.
Also Read: 'Speaker Of The Knesset Medal': PM Modi Receives Israel's Top Parliamentary Honour
The visual moment highlighted the steady growth of collaboration across several sectors and reaffirmed the strong bilateral ties that have developed in recent years.
Ahead of the dinner, Netanyahu shared a post on X, writing in Hindi, “Before our joint dinner, I surprised my friend Prime Minister Modi by wearing traditional Indian clothing,” accompanied by the national flag symbols of both countries.
Prime Minister Modi responded with a post on X, stating, “Bahut hi shandaar. Your fondness for Indian attire shows your regard for India's rich culture and traditions.”
The exchange was seen as a friendly acknowledgement of Netanyahu's choice of attire and a reflection of the warm personal understanding between the two leaders.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Israel on Wednesday as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral defence and trade relations, at a time when tensions in the Middle East remain high, including a deteriorating relationship between the United States and Iran.
On the first day of his visit, Modi addressed the Knesset and later attended a formal dinner hosted by Netanyahu. On the second day of the visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to pay homage at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and hold detailed discussions with Netanyahu as well as Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel.
Also Read: ‘Well Known Around The World': Israel's Netanyahu Praises Modi's Hugplomacy
Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.