India to set up Cultural Centre in Israel to Enhance people-to-people Connection between 2 Nations

Wide-ranging talks were held with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday
Modi commended the contribution of the Jewish community in India. He also applauded the Jews of Indian origin in Israel for their attempts of bringing the two societies closer

Jerusalem, July 06, 2017: An Indian Cultural Centre is going to be set up in Israel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced on Wednesday. This attempt goes as to enhance people-to-people connection between the two nations, Press Trust of India has reported.

According to the reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first Indian premier visiting Israel, post his landing in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. Wide-ranging talks were held with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday.

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Modi commended the contribution of the Jewish community in India. He also applauded the Jews of Indian origin in Israel for their attempts of bringing the two societies closer, announcing the pans of opening of an Indian Cultural Centre in Israel; reported from a joint statement issued post the conversation between the leaders of the two nations.

According to the reports, the statement briefed, "This was warmly welcomed by Prime Minister Netanyahu who expressed his deep respect for Indian culture and recalled Israel's strong support and sponsorship of PM Modi's initiative to promote the practice of Yoga by designating June 21 as International Yoga Day," PTI has reported.

According to PTI reports, the founder-President of the Central Organization of Indian Jews in Israel, Noah Massil, had stated that such an announcement would "fulfill a long time dream of the Indian community here (in Israel)", just couple of days before the landmark visit of Modi. He further said, "We have been trying hard to establish an Indian Cultural Centre in Israel like the one in Cairo (Egypt)."

Massil was quoted as saying, "There are about 47 synagogues of the Indian Jewish community and they all can also pitch in with financial support if such a proposal comes up and the government allocates land for an Indian Cultural Centre," PTI reported.