Jerusalem: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred Israel’s highest parliamentary honour, the Speaker of the Knesset Medal, during his official visit to Israel.
PM Modi dedicated the prestigious award to the enduring friendship between India and Israel, calling it a recognition of shared democratic values and strong bilateral ties.
Recognition for Strengthening India-Israel Strategic Ties
The honour was awarded in recognition of PM Modi’s significant contribution to strengthening strategic relations between India and Israel.
Sharing his thoughts on social media platform X, PM Modi wrote that he felt deeply honoured to receive the Knesset Medal and accepted it with humility and gratitude. He emphasized that the award was not for an individual but for the deep-rooted friendship between the two nations.
S. Jaishankar Calls It a Special Recognition
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar described the honour as truly special. He stated that the recognition appropriately acknowledges PM Modi’s decisive role in building and advancing the India-Israel partnership.
Address to the Knesset
After receiving the honour, PM Modi addressed the Knesset and expressed gratitude to the Israeli Parliament for the recognition.
He informed the House that the Indian Parliament has formed a Parliamentary Friendship Group for Israel and invited Israeli lawmakers to visit India. He also expressed hope for stronger parliamentary engagement between the two democracies.
Focus on Trade, Investment and Economic Growth
During his address, PM Modi highlighted India’s strong economic performance, noting that India has been the world’s fastest-growing major economy in recent years and is on track to become one of the top three global economies.
He reaffirmed India’s commitment to expanding trade, strengthening investment flows, and promoting joint infrastructure development between the two countries.
Shared Civilizational Values
PM Modi also spoke about the philosophical similarities between the two ancient civilizations. He said Israel’s principle of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and India’s philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family) both reflect a shared vision of global responsibility and harmony beyond borders.
The honour marks another milestone in India-Israel relations, reinforcing cooperation in defence, technology, innovation, trade, and global diplomacy.
