In The Knesset Modi Says India Stands Firmly With Israel In This Moment And Beyond
The Times of Israel14 hrs
Modi Addresses Israeli Knesset, Receives Top Honor
Is Modi's Israel visit a strategic partnership between democracies or endorsement of genocide in Gaza?
Above: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem on Feb. 25. Image credit: Ilia Yefimovich/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
Modi's historic visit reinforced the India-Israel partnership, highlighting a natural alliance rooted in democracy, ancient history and shared threats from Islamist terrorism. In his Knesset address, he made clear that this strategic alliance stands firmly as a protective wall against barbarism, as evidenced during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. Under Modi and Netanyahu, ties now span tech, agriculture and the transport project IMEC, fostering stability in an uncertain world and supporting prospects for durable peace, including in Gaza and as a counterweight to Iran.
Pro-Palestine narrative
Modi's embrace of Netanyahu legitimizes an apartheid state committing genocide in Gaza, betraying India's anti-colonial legacy and historic support for Palestine. This visit amounts to political endorsement of mass murder, with Modi condemning Oct. 7 while ignoring over 250,000 Palestinian casualties from Israel's brutal retaliation. The so-called "pragmatic approach" has cost India its moral credibility in the Global South, trading principles for weapons deals and surveillance technology used to suppress dissent at home.