Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched down at Ben Gurion Airport on February 25, 2026, shortly before 1 pm local time, launching a tightly scripted two-day state visit — his second since the historic 2017 trip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and wife Sara personally received him with a warm hug, red-carpet honours and the Indian National Anthem. The Knesset glowed in tricolour lights as Modi prepared to become the first Indian premier to address Israel’s parliament.

The milestone is clouded by domestic Israeli drama. Opposition parties led by Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) and National Unity have threatened to boycott the speech unless Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana invites Supreme Court President Isaac Amit — a protocol breach amid Netanyahu’s ongoing judicial overhaul battle. On February 25 morning, opposition MKs staged protests and walkouts; Lapid publicly urged Netanyahu to intervene to prevent a half-empty chamber. The standoff persists in the afternoon, though some opposition voices signal flexibility if resolved before the address, expected later today or early tomorrow. Indian MEA described it as “internal Israeli political posturing” with “no bearing on bilateral outcomes.” A joint statement is slated for February 26.

Core agenda of PM Modi's visit remains robust - upgrading defence-security pacts, AI-cybersecurity-quantum ties, fast-tracking the free trade agreement, trade already at $6.5 billion in 2024, India Israel’s top Asian arms buyer, agriculture, water management and people-to-people links. Modi’s departure statement highlighted the “robust and multifaceted strategic partnership” and his invitation from “dear friend” Netanyahu. Tomorrow he meets President Isaac Herzog.

Sources confirm negotiations for a Rs 8,000-crore deal to convert six second-hand Boeing 767 jets into mid-air refuellers via an Israeli state-owned firm partnering with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. The Indian Air Force, still reliant on ageing IL-78s after two decades of failed tenders, desperately needs these tankers; a 2026 signature would mark a major capability boost and “Make in India” success.

The Knesset optics expose how Israel’s deep polarisation now colours even red-carpet diplomacy — yet Lapid’s own Hindi welcome and cross-party warmth underscore that India-Israel ties transcend domestic fault-lines. For New Delhi, this is classic pragmatic statecraft: prioritising concrete gains in defence tech and innovation while sidestepping ideological minefields. In an era of hybrid threats and US-Iran tensions, the visit quietly cements a reliable, interest-driven axis that neither Gaza fallout nor Israeli courtroom battles can derail. Watch for the tanker deal and possible Iron Dome technology transfer as the real deliverables. No MEA reshuffles accompanied the trip; diplomats quietly managed optics, proving substance still trumps spectacle in 2026 diplomacy.