India-Israel ties in ''upward trajectory'' courtesy Modi-Bibi equation: Indian envoy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu have used ir "excellent" personal equation to deepen bilateral ties which are moving in an "urd trajectory", India's Ambassor to Israel, Pavan Kapoor has said.

Ties between India and Israel, into 27th year w, strengned with Modi's historic visit to country in July 2017 during first term, Kapoor told a media publication.

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Stating that relationship is moving in an "urd trajectory", envoy said, "Modi and Netanyahu share an excellent equation and it is in ir tenure that we have h Modi coming to Israel for first time and Netanyahu visiting India".

Modi visited Israel in July 2017, first visit by an Indian prime minister in 70 years.

During historic visit, personal chemistry and warmth between Modi and Netanyahu, also kwn as Bibi, were apparent t only in ir prepared remarks but also ir repeated hugs.

In ir prepared speeches, both leers described each or as, "my friend" and embraced each or three times.

Ambassor Kapoor said that a lot of people from India and Israel are travelling to each or's countries for work and leisure and that has pushed tourism.

"I think what both (Modi and Netanyahu) have tried to do is to build this connection between institutions so that relationship grows in all sectors. y have expanded and deepened relationship in several areas and it is bound to increase," Kapoor said.

He specifically singled out post-conscription visits by Israelis to India as a special draw to find "solace".

"People of both countries are spending, experiencing each or's countries. A large number of Israeli people travel to India after ir military service and y go and find solace (in India), y spend many months travelling and y have a good experience," he said.

Indian tourist arrivals to Israel has jumped to 70,000 last year from 12,000 earlier, he said.

"It is a Holy Land... we have a lot of pilgrim tourist coming in for visit to Jerusalem," Kapoor said.

He said yoga, which originated in ancient India, is popular in Israel too.

"Yoga is very popular here. popularity for yoga is huge, number of yoga teachers per capita is highest in this country," he said.

Speaking about cultural similarities, envoy said that just like Indians, Jewish people have close ties with families and sit down for dinners on Friday evening.

Talking about presence of Indians in Israel, Kapoor said, "About 12,000 to 13,000 Indian nationals stay in Israel and bulk of m are in caregiving industry and help elderly folks in Israel. n we have about 25 to 30 Gujarati diamond merchant families who have been here for many years and y are doing good business".

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re are also 550 Indian students pursuing doctoral and post-doctoral studies, Kapoor said, ding a few Indian corporates also have ir offices in Israel. Israel and India established full diplomatic relations on January 29, 1992. However, even before that, Israel h a Consulate in Mumbai, operating since 1953.