New Delhi/Tel Aviv: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a historic two-day visit to Israel, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset.
Amid the visit, the social media account “Modi Archive” has shared key milestones and photographs from his earlier engagements with Israel, tracing a diplomatic journey rooted in agriculture and water management cooperation.
First Israel Visit in 2006 as Gujarat CM
According to the archive, Modi first visited Israel in 2006 as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. He attended Agritech-2006, Israel’s largest international agricultural technology exhibition, along with an Indian delegation comprising senior officials and representatives from the agriculture sector.
During the India-Israel Business Forum, Modi presented Gujarat’s agricultural vision with the slogan “Per Drop More Crop.” The phrase later became the guiding motto of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana at the national level.
Internal reports from the Gujarat delegation reportedly noted that his presentation received significant appreciation from international participants.
Landmark 2017 Visit as Prime Minister
Eleven years later, in 2017, Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to undertake a standalone bilateral visit to Israel. Agriculture remained central to the agenda.
During the visit, Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured the Danziger Flower Farm in Tel Aviv. Israel’s leading flower genetics company named a new white chrysanthemum variety “Modi” in his honour, symbolising growing agricultural ties.
A three-year agricultural work programme was signed during the visit, formalising cooperation initiatives that had roots in earlier engagements dating back to 2006.
Agriculture and Water Management: The Core Link
The connecting thread between the 2006 and 2017 visits was cooperation in agriculture and water resource management.
While India has vast agricultural land and scale, Israel has pioneered advanced technologies such as drip irrigation, wastewater recycling, and desalination. As Gujarat CM, Modi identified these innovations as crucial for India’s needs. As Prime Minister, he expanded this cooperation into a structured government-to-government framework.
During his 2017 address to the Indian diaspora in Tel Aviv, Modi highlighted that Israel’s agricultural expertise could support India’s journey toward a second Green Revolution.
Focus of 2026 Visit
After nine years, Modi’s 2026 Israel visit is expected to once again focus on agriculture, water management, food security, innovation, and strategic cooperation.
With the upcoming address to the Knesset, the visit marks another milestone in India-Israel relations, reinforcing a partnership that began with agricultural collaboration and has evolved into a broad strategic alliance.
