In a goodwill gesture, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed heartfelt wishes to his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz, on the occasion of the Jewish festival of Passover, also known as Pesach.
The festival, which marks the exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, holds profound significance for Jewish communities worldwide. Taking to social media platform X, EAM Jaishankar expressed, “My warm wishes to FM @Israel_katz and the Jewish people everywhere on #Pessach. Chag #Pessach Sameach!”
My warm wishes to FM @Israel_katz and the Jewish people everywhere on #Pessach.
Chag #Pessach Sameach!
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 22, 2024
Responding to the gracious gesture from Bharat, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz reciprocated with gratitude, expressing hope for strengthened ties between the two nations. “Thank you, FM @DrSJaishankar, for your warm wishes. I hope that thanks to the Passover holiday, the relations between our peoples will be further strengthened,” he posted on X.
As Jewish communities in Greater Manchester and across the globe come together to celebrate Passover, the festival serves as a moment for reflection, unity, and tradition. Families and friends gather for the Seder, a ritual feast where symbolic foods narrate the exodus story. Many Jewish people outside Israel participate in a second Seder the following night, extending the festivities and camaraderie.
Bharat and Israel’s bilateral relations have witnessed significant developments, particularly following Bharat’s official response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, where Bharat condemned the Hamas attack on Israel and reaffirmed support for its national security. Bharat formally recognized Israel on September 17, 1950, marking the beginning of a diplomatic relationship that has evolved and strengthened over the years.
Since the establishment of full diplomatic relations in 1992, defense and agriculture have been integral pillars of bilateral engagement between Bharat and Israel. However, recent years have seen a rapid expansion of relations across various sectors, with a vision for a robust hi-tech partnership aligning with the strengths of both nations as knowledge economies.
The political ties between Bharat and Israel are characterized by warmth and cooperation. Notable high-level visits, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic trip to Israel in 2017 and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Bharat in 2018, have elevated the relationship to a strategic level.
These visits have been accompanied by the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding spanning research and development, innovation, water, agriculture, cybersecurity, and more.
Before these landmark visits, there were notable exchanges at the presidential level, underscoring the depth of bilateral engagement.
President Pranab Mukherjee’s state visit to Israel in October 2015 and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin’s visit to Bharat in November 2016 laid the groundwork for enhanced cooperation in trade, agriculture, science and technology, culture, and security.
As Bharat and Israel continue to deepen their ties, the foundation laid by these diplomatic exchanges and agreements sets the stage for a mutually beneficial partnership, fostering innovation, prosperity, and shared values between the two nations.
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