 "Pranab Mukherjee invites Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to India")
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been invited by President Pranab Mukherjee to pay an official visit to India.
Mukherjee, the first Indian Head of State to visit Israel, disclosed to reporters on board his special flight from Tel Aviv to New Delhi last night that besides Netanyahu he had also invited his Israeli counterpart Reuven Rivlin to India.
"President Rivlin accepted my invitation and confirmed his intention to do so at an early date. I also invited Israeli Parliamentarians to come to India and engage with their Indian counterparts," he said.
Netanyahu is believed to be keen to visit India. He has met Modi in New York last year and has been appreciative of the Indian leader.
Ariel Sharon was the first Israeli Prime Minister to visit India when he came in 2003.
Mukherjee, the first Indian Head of State to visit Israel, disclosed to reporters on board his special flight from Tel Aviv to New Delhi last night that besides Netanyahu he had also invited his Israeli counterpart Reuven Rivlin to India.
"President Rivlin accepted my invitation and confirmed his intention to do so at an early date. I also invited Israeli Parliamentarians to come to India and engage with their Indian counterparts," he said.
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With both India and Israel keen to strengthen their ties further, there has been speculation that Mukherjee's visit will be followed by that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Jewish state, probably next year.
Netanyahu is believed to be keen to visit India. He has met Modi in New York last year and has been appreciative of the Indian leader.
Ariel Sharon was the first Israeli Prime Minister to visit India when he came in 2003.