Politics · India Bureau
Netanyahu Invites PM Modi to Israel Independence Day Celebration
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend Israel's Independence Day festivities. The gesture comes as India's Smit Machchhar is set to be honoured for his heroic actions aboard a commercial flight.
LSN India ·
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has invited India's PM Narendra Modi to participate in Israel's upcoming Independence Day celebrations, signalling the strengthening of bilateral ties between the two nations. The invitation underscores the growing diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Jerusalem across multiple sectors.
The invitation coincides with plans to honour Smit Machchhar, an Indian national who displayed exceptional courage during an in-flight incident. Machchhar sustained injuries while confronting a co-pilot aboard a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight on September 30, which was carrying 174 passengers at the time of the incident.
Machchhar's actions during the emergency situation prevented a potentially catastrophic outcome, drawing widespread appreciation from aviation safety experts and international observers. His bravery has been recognised as exemplary conduct in a high-risk situation, prompting Israeli authorities to include him in their Independence Day honours.
The dual developments reflect India and Israel's expanding cooperation in security, defence, and people-to-people exchanges. Modi's potential attendance at the Independence Day celebrations would further cement the strategic partnership between the two democracies in South and West Asia.
Photo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meet in Israel, 25 February 2026. Prime Minister's Office, Government of India, via Wikimedia Commons (GODL-India).