Netanyahu Surprises PM Modi In Traditional Indian 'Modi Jacket And Kurta', Ahead Of Dinner; PM Modi Reacts

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surprised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi by wearing traditional Indian attire before their joint dinner in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

The thoughtful gesture created a friendly and warm moment between the two leaders during a day full of important diplomatic events.

Netanyahu chose to wear a stone-coloured Nehru jacket, often called a "Modi jacket," with a band collar and tailored fit. He paired it with a white kurta-style shirt featuring a simple collar. Dark navy trousers and polished black formal shoes completed his look. The outfit reflected respect for Indian culture and highlighted the strong personal bond between the two leaders.

Netanyahu Shares the Moment on Social Media

Netanyahu later shared the moment on social media platform X. Posting about the surprise, he wrote that he wore traditional Indian attire to delight his "friend Prime Minister Modi" ahead of their dinner. The post also showed Modi's positive reaction to the gesture.

This cultural exchange added a personal touch to an otherwise busy diplomatic day and symbolised the growing closeness between India and Israel.

A Day Full of Diplomatic Engagements

The surprise came on a day packed with important meetings and events. Earlier, Prime Minister Modi addressed a Special Plenary session of Israel's Parliament, the Knesset. With this speech, Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Israeli Parliament.

On his arrival at the Knesset, Modi received a ceremonial welcome from Speaker Amir Ohana. Several top Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Netanyahu and Opposition leader Yair Lapid, attended the session and expressed strong bipartisan support for India-Israel relations.

Honour and Recognition at the Knesset

During the event, Modi thanked the Speaker for what he described as a "special honour." He also expressed gratitude for being awarded the 'Speaker of The Knesset' medal. Modi dedicated the honour to the long-standing friendship between India and Israel and to their shared democratic values.

To celebrate the historic address, the Knesset building was illuminated in the colours of the Indian national flag. This was the first time such a tribute was given during an Indian Prime Minister's speech in Israel.

Focus on Strong India-Israel Ties

In his 32-minute speech, Modi spoke about the deep and historic connections between India and Israel. He highlighted ancient civilisational links as well as the modern partnership based on technology, innovation, defence and security cooperation.

He noted that both countries share a strong stance against terrorism and follow a policy of "zero tolerance" toward terror activities. Modi also offered condolences for the victims of the October 7 terror attack and said that such violence cannot be justified.

At the same time, he reiterated India's support for the Gaza Peace initiative, saying it could help bring a fair and lasting peace to the region.

Trade and Future Cooperation

Modi also mentioned the proposed India-Israel free trade agreement, which is currently under discussion. He said the agreement could open new opportunities and unlock huge potential in trade and economic cooperation between the two nations.

The leaders expressed hope that stronger economic ties would further deepen the strategic partnership between India and Israel.

Strengthening a Strategic Partnership

This visit marks Modi's second trip to Israel in nine years. During his historic visit in 2017, India and Israel upgraded their relationship to a "strategic partnership." Since then, cooperation between the two countries has expanded in areas such as defence, agriculture, technology and innovation.

Netanyahu's gesture of wearing Indian attire highlighted not only diplomatic warmth but also the growing personal friendship and mutual respect between the two leaders. The visit is seen as another step toward strengthening ties between India and Israel for the future.