Narendra Modi Visits Israel: Thousands of Indians Turn Out for PM in Raucous Tel Aviv Event
Complete with strobe lights and huge screens, the hanger-like space resembled a rock concert, as Bollywood singer Sukhwinder Singh performed energetically and warmed the crowd up with rhythmic calls of “India and Israel!” between numbers.
Complete with strobe lights and huge screens, the hanger-like space resembled a rock concert, as Bollywood singer Sukhwinder Singh performed energetically and warmed the crowd up with rhythmic calls of “India and Israel!” between numbers.
With its lyrics translated into Hebrew and posted on a screen, a lavishly dressed Singh also sang a Hindi love song to Israel, titled “India + Israel = Love.”
“I sing a love song to peace
This India knows about love: there are no
differences among people
We love people from our heart
We know them as good friends
And everyone understands this — that we give out love
I am blessed that I am from India
Coming to Israel, to get a blessing from Israel
We don’t believe in war, we believe in love
In our custom there is one lesson — to respect others
We believe in God
We feel God
We believe God is in every element of nature
I am proud to say that God created me in India
That believes in peace
I am from India
And I sing with all my heart for Israel”
This India knows about love: there are no
differences among people
We love people from our heart
We know them as good friends
And everyone understands this — that we give out love
I am blessed that I am from India
Coming to Israel, to get a blessing from Israel
We don’t believe in war, we believe in love
In our custom there is one lesson — to respect others
We believe in God
We feel God
We believe God is in every element of nature
I am proud to say that God created me in India
That believes in peace
I am from India
And I sing with all my heart for Israel”
Dozens of posters hung on the walls (most in English and a few in Hebrew) welcoming Modi, calling him “The Creator of Modern India,” and carrying logos for the “25 years of growing partnership” between India and Israel.
'Modi knows that there are millions of Indian-born people who live outside of India, some for good, some for a few years. He knows that the Indian Diaspora is important, both diplomatically and economically'
Indians wave an Indian and an Israeli flag at a Narendra Modi-headlined event in Tel Aviv, July 5, 2017
Indians wave an Indian and an Israeli flag at a Narendra Modi-headlined event in Tel Aviv, July 5, 2017
Thousands of Indians from all over Israel crowded enthusiastically into a Tel Aviv convention center on Wednesday evening to attend a rock concert-meets-political rally, complete with pop music and speeches from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The event was one of the public highlights of Modi’s three-day visit to Israel, the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister, and was organized by the Indian Embassy, which had chartered buses to bring in Indian citizens from all over Israel.
Chethan Bhadravathi and Shalini Bhadravthi at a Tel Aviv event headlined by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, July 5, 2017.Ilan Assayag
During Modi's visit, Israel and India have signed a series of agreements to cooperate in fields such as space, agriculture, technology and water conservation. They have also signed agreements regarding defense, shared intelligence and anti-terrorism activity, although these have been played down in both the style and the public content of the visit, which has emphasized shared cultural values, and people-to-people ties.
Dozens of people gathered in small groups in the plaza outside the hall despite the Tel Aviv heat, waving flags and dancing traditional dances. “Jai (Glory to) India! Jai to Israel,” many called out spontaneously.
The culmination of the community’s raw elation was reserved for the moment Modi and Netanyahu walked on stage to Academy Award-level applause and a solid two-minute standing ovation. The leaders — Modi dressed in blue-and-beige, Netanyahu in a blue tie — clasped hands triumphantly in the air.
The culmination of the community’s raw elation was reserved for the moment Modi and Netanyahu walked on stage to Academy Award-level applause and a solid two-minute standing ovation. The leaders — Modi dressed in blue-and-beige, Netanyahu in a blue tie — clasped hands triumphantly in the air.
“Modi! Modi! Modi!” chanted the observers, some of whom wore “I am a fan of Narendra Modi” t-shirts
“Do you love India?” a grinning Netanyahu asked the crowd, setting off more vigorous air-punching and frantic cheers.
“Do you love Israel?” he added, receiving an equally enthusiastic response.
Hailing the strong bilateral ties between the two countries for 25 years, Netanyahu noted that “we always remember that there’s a human bridge between us — you. We admire you, we respect you, we love you.”
Taking the stage after Netanyahu, Modi gave a lengthy speech in Hindi to the crowd of mostly Indian immigrants.
“For the first time in 70 years an Indian PM has got an opportunity to visit Israel,” his office wrote on Twitter in English simultaneously. “This is a matter of joy.”
For Israel’s Indian community, it certainly was.
Cartoon in The Jerusalem Post : Lion of Judah side by side with Tiger of Asia
“Do you love India?” a grinning Netanyahu asked the crowd, setting off more vigorous air-punching and frantic cheers.
“Do you love Israel?” he added, receiving an equally enthusiastic response.
Hailing the strong bilateral ties between the two countries for 25 years, Netanyahu noted that “we always remember that there’s a human bridge between us — you. We admire you, we respect you, we love you.”
Taking the stage after Netanyahu, Modi gave a lengthy speech in Hindi to the crowd of mostly Indian immigrants.
“For the first time in 70 years an Indian PM has got an opportunity to visit Israel,” his office wrote on Twitter in English simultaneously. “This is a matter of joy.”
For Israel’s Indian community, it certainly was.
Cartoon in The Jerusalem Post : Lion of Judah side by side with Tiger of Asia
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