Netanyahu To Arrive In India Today, Prime Minister Modi To Be Present At Airport Against Protocol

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will arrive in India today for a six-day visit, just months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first Indian head of government to visit the Jewish nation. Netanyahu, who will be accompanied by a 130-member delegation from sectors such as cyber, agriculture and defence, will become the second Israeli Prime Minister after Ariel Sharon to visit India.

Breaking the established protocol, Modi will be present at the airport to receive Netanyahu and his wife. On his visit to Israel, Modi was accorded a grand welcome, similar to one reserved for the presidents of the United States.

Netanyahu is expected to visit the Teen Murti monument soon after he arrives in India to pay respect to the three Indian regiments who fought to liberate the city of Haifa (now part of Israel) over a century ago. According to the Times of India, the Teen Murti Marg will be renamed the Teen Murti Haifa Marg today.

After the ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Netanyahu will hold discussions with the Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Issues related to defence, security and business are expected to dominate the talks between the two countries.

A $500 million deal for the purchase of Spike anti-tank guided missiles from Israel's state-owned defence firm Rafael could be signed during Netanyahu’s visit.