 "Swaraj to visit Palestine, Israel on Jan 17-18")
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will visit the State of Palestine and later Israel on January 17-18.
The Ministry of External Affairs said this will be Swaraj's first visit to West Asia. "Palestine is the first destination in the region which in itself reflects the importance India holds for Palestine in its engagement with the countries of the region," it said.
President Pranab Mukherjee had visited Palestine and Israel in October 2015. Swaraj will inaugurate the Palestine Digital Learning & Innovation Centre in Ramallah. Swaraj will be in Israel on January 17-18. The MEA said India and Israel "share firm belief in the values of democracy and free market economy."
It said India and Israel also share close relation in the fields of agriculture, science & technology and education. "India's relations with Israel are part of its engagement with the broader West Asia region and are independent to its relations with any country in the region," the MEA stated.