Israel minister discusses bilateral issues with Jaishankar, cuts short visit

Cohen said he will return home after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.

According to reports from Tel Aviv, Israel has launched a major military offensive, targeting some militants in Gaza Strip. At least 12 Palestinians, including three commanders of the militant group Islamic Jihad, have been killed in the air strikes, the reports said.

In an address at the India-Israel Business Forum, Cohen said during his meeting with Prime Minister Modi he would raise the issue of free trade agreement between the two countries. “I believe it can boost our relations,” he said.

Shortly after Cohen arrived in Delhi, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said he would leave for Tel Aviv after calling on Modi. “Foreign Minister Eli Cohen landed a short while ago in New Delhi…and as soon as he landed he received a security update,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “In light of the events in Israel, Foreign Minister Cohen decided to cut short his diplomatic visit to India and return to Israel after the meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that will take place today.”

Earlier, after his meeting with Cohen, Jaishankar tweeted, “Productive and wide-ranging discussions with Foreign Minister @elicoh1 of Israel this afternoon. The main pillars of our Strategic Partnership — Agriculture, Water, Defence & Security — are taking our ties forward. New agreements in water & agriculture today underline the potential to do more.”

Besides discussing “cooperation in high tech, digital and innovation, as also connectivity, mobility tourism, finance, and health”, Jaishankar stated that they also noted the progress in I2U2 and cooperation in multilateral forums.

“Exchanged perspectives on our respective regions, Ukraine and Indo-Pacific. Initialed an agreement in the area of mobility,” he tweeted.