pm visit israel

• International
• Today’s Paper
• Mumbai News
• Chandigarh News
• Bangalore News
• Lucknow News
• Ahmedabad News
• Chennai News

Modi in Israel: All that happened during PM’s historic trip

Narendra modi became the first prime minister from india to visit israel in the last 70 years. seven agreements were signed between the two countries. post his three day historic visit to israel, the prime minister is scheduled to fly to germany to attend the g20 summit..

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was on a three-day visit to Israel concluded his trip on Thursday. The tour was historic not only because Modi is the first sitting Indian Prime Minister to visit the Jewish state but also because significant agreements were signed between India and Israel that could be beneficial to both the countries in the long run. Here is everything that happened on Modi’s Israel visit.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself was at the Ben Gurion Airport to receive Modi when he landed there on Tuesday. The Indian Prime Minister was given a grand official welcome and was warmly embraced by Netanyahu who told Modi, “Aapka swagat hai mere dost.” Modi also thanked his Israeli counterpart for receiving him and emphasised that India considers Israel as an important development partner. He also hailed the sacrifices of Yonatan Netanyahu who was killed during Operation Entebbe.

From the airport, Modi headed to Danziger “Dan” Flower Farm. Here he got a flower named after him as a token of remembrance. He also visited Yad Vashem, the Hall of Names, attended the memorial ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance, toured the Children’s Memorial and signed the Yad Vashem Guest Book. He also made an unscheduled stop at Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem to pay respect to the modern zionism founder.

On the second day, PM Modi met President Reuven Rivlin in Jerusalem and recalled Israel’s First Citizen’s visit to India last year. “The President of Israel welcomed me so warmly, he broke protocol. This is a mark of respect for the people of India,” PM Modi tweeted. Hailing the ties between the two nations, Modi said, “I for I. Which means India for Israel and Israel for India.” Later he met Benjamin Netanyahu over talks to enhance ties between the two countries. Both the ministers addressed the media for a joint statement in which they focused on terrorism called for global cooperation in fighting the menace.

In a special gesture, PM Modi met Moshe Holtzberg, the Israeli child who survived the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, and invited him to India. He also met Moshe’s Indian nanny Sandra Samuels, who managed to escape with the child when the terrorists attacked.

Benjamin Netanyahu called Modi’s visit groundbreaking and said that he sees ‘history in making’ in their talks. India and Israel then signed seven agreements in key areas like space, water management, energy and agriculture. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed to set up $40 million worth India-Israel Industrial Research and Development (R&D) and Technical Innovation Fund.

Two agreements were signed in the sector to increase cooperation on water conservation and state water utility reform in India. Both the countries also agreed for India-Israle Development Coopeartion, a three year work programme in the agriculture sector. They also launched a five-year technology fund.

Later PM Modi addressed the Indian community in Isreal at Tel Aviv Convention Centre. During the meeting, Modi announced that Israeli citizens of Indian origin would be given Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, even if they have served in the Israeli military. He also promised direct flights connecting the two countries. “The Jewish community has enriched India with their contribution in various fields. Israel has shown that more than size, it is the spirit that matters. Our ties with Israel are about mutual trust and friendship,” Modi said.

PM Modi also announced that an Indian Cultural Centre would be set up in Israel. He also invited the Israeli companies to come and participate in the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the government. He emphasised on the ease of doing business in India which had recently adpoted GST.

Prime Minister Modi gifted replicas of two sets of relics from Kerala that are “regarded as key artifacts in the long Jewish history in India” to his Israeli counterpart. Modi also presented him with a Torah scroll donated by the Paradesi Jewish community in Kerala and a metal crown from South India.

The two leaders made a joint statement on varied fields like terrorism, technology and defence. On the developments pertaining to the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process, the leaders reaffirmed their support for an early negotiated solution based on mutual recognition and security arrangements.

On the last day of his trip, PM Modi along with PM Netanyahu paid homage to the soldiers in Haifa. He laid a wreath at the cemetery that contains the graves of Indian soldiers who had died during the First World War. He also unveiled a plaque commemorating Major Dalpat Singh, known as the ‘Hero of Haifa’ for his critical role in the liberation of the city.

Later he visited Dor Beach with his Israeli counterpart. Both the leaders were seen enjoying the light breeze at the beach. Modi was also given a demonstration of a mobile seawater desalination unit.

Later the Israeli Prime Minister hosted the Indian Prime Minister for a special luncheon with Israeli and Indian business leaders. PM Netanyahu also gifted Modi a picture of them strolling at the beach as a token of his visit. The Indian Prime Minister concluded his trip by interacting with Indian students in Tel Aviv. He was bid farewell by PM Benjamin Netanyahu in a ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport.

Thank you my friend, PM @netanyahu for the signed photo, your kind words, amazing hospitality & passion towards #IndiaIsraelFriendship . pic.twitter.com/1jUtMG3F85 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 6, 2017

Post his historic visit to Israel, the prime minister is scheduled to fly to Germany to attend the G20 Summit.

Click here to join The Indian Express on WhatsApp and get latest news and updates

• Benjamin Netanyahu
• Narendra Modi
• Reuven Rivlin

Bollywood legend Rishi Kapoor's 50-year career included iconic performances in films like Bobby, Prem Rog, and Sargam. Despite facing tough competition from Amitabh Bachchan, who didn't credit his co-stars, the two had a successful on-screen partnership. In a recent interview, Rishi opened up about their dynamic.

• Paris Paralympics 2024 Day 7 Live Updates: Sachin Khilari leads in Men’s Shot Put F46; Bhavina Patel’s quarterfinal coming up 9 mins ago
• Paris Paralympics 2024 Day 6 Highlights: India hit 20 with medals in high jump for Sharad, Thangavelu; medals in javelin for Ajeet, Sundar 4 hours ago
• Para Badminton Paris Paralympics 2024 Live Updates: Thulasi and Manisha’s medal matches next; Nitesh Kumar wins India’s 2nd gold of the Games 2 days ago
• Paris Paralympics 2024 Day 5 Highlights: Sumit Antil in javelin, Nitesh Kumar in badminton win gold; India win 8 medals on a historic day 1 day ago

Best of Express

Buzzing Now

Sep 04: Latest News

• 01 Worker killed, another hurt in mattress factory after machine operator turns on foam mixer
• 02 Strike by MSRTC drivers, conductors affect commuters ahead of festive season
• 03 Need to change the way women are viewed, says President Murmu
• 04 IUCAA astronomers part of an international team that measured the ‘cosmic dipole effect’
• 05 Delhi L-G can now appoint members to boards, without President’s nod
• Elections 2024
• Political Pulse
• Entertainment
• Movie Review
• Newsletters
• Web Stories
• Express Shorts
• Mini Crossword
• Health & Wellness

LIVE: PM Narendra Modi Has Good News For Israelis Of Indian Origin

PM Narendra Modi and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu at Tel Aviv Convention Centre.

Here is the live coverage of PM Narendra Modi's 3-day visit to Israel:

PM announces flight to connect Delhi-Mumbai-Tel Aviv. Says young Israelis would be especially welcome in India - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

PM announces OCI card for those Indian origin persons who have done compulsory military service in Israel pic.twitter.com/0KBF5yOwqD - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

🇮🇱 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/2JEtjAVWpY - Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) July 5, 2017

With the aim of 'housing for all' we have placed emphasis on the construction and the real estate sector: PM @narendramodi - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 5, 2017

With GST we are aiming towards the economic integration of India: PM @narendramodi - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 5, 2017

We have introduced 100% FDI in key sectors, which will help our economy: PM @narendramodi - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 5, 2017

Jewish community has enriched India with their contribution in various fields: PM @narendramodi - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 5, 2017

Mayors of various Israeli cities have also joined us today. Their love for India has drawn them here, I thank them: PM @narendramodi - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 5, 2017

Celebrating the cultural linkages btw #IsraelIndia . The leaders visit Jewish museum, examine exhibits dedicated to India's jewish heritage pic.twitter.com/hZZLLuJDoF - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

The photo depicts Indian soldiers leading a British military column to librate Jerusalem (December 11, 1917). pic.twitter.com/cgnZS590Iq - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 5, 2017

Living bridges of excellence between #IndiaIsrael . PM meets three Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardees from Israel pic.twitter.com/ze1laYZoD8 - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

An emotional moment reminiscent of horrific terrorist attack. PM @narendramodi meets Moshe, the boy who survived 26/11 Mumbai attack in 2008 pic.twitter.com/YH9cQqjo3R - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

PM ends:Tomorrow I will travel to Haifa to pay homage to brave Indian soldiers.It has been a productive & memorable 24 hours in🇮🇱. Shalom! - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

We also discussed the situation in West Asia and the wider region. It is India's hope that peace, dialogue and restraint will prevail: PM - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 5, 2017

Prime Minister @netanyahu and I agreed to do much more together to protect our strategic interests: PM @narendramodi #IndiaIsraelFriendship - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 5, 2017

PM @netanyahu calls PM's visit groundbreaking and emphasises that he sees history in making in his talks w PM - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

PM mentions his stay n interactions in Israel since y'day reflect trust n clarity in the unfolding chapter in rlns - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

PM begins delgn talks w exprsng thanks to PM @netanyahu for hosting d historic visit n playing a crucial role in writing imp chapter in rlns - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

Expanding perspectives. PM @narendramodi and PM @netanyahu before start of restricted talks pic.twitter.com/Wf2FIZZAzY - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

Taking yesterday's discussions forward. PM @narendramodi and PM @netanyahu meet for restricted talks in Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/ytZbz7pkcB - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

Beginning the morning with the First Citizen! Day 2 in Jerusalem starts with PM @narendramodi calling on President @PresidentRuvi pic.twitter.com/u62W6mT6xI - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

PM recalls that Prez Rivlin's phrase 'Make with India' is echoed in Israel and has percolates to all levels pic.twitter.com/mk6cqQ8lBs - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

The President of Israel welcomed me so warmly, he broke protocol. This is a mark of respect for the people of India: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/r6eFdlrYwz - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 5, 2017

PM begins statement before dinner with PM Netanyahu:I thank my good friend PM @Netanyahu & Mrs Sara fr opening their home to me today pic.twitter.com/T6yWENjnyB - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 4, 2017

PM Netanyahu and @PMOIndia Modi visited @yadvashem . The two leaders toured the Hall of Names and participated in a memorial ceremony. pic.twitter.com/wT796pBOHt - PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) July 4, 2017

Before departing the Yad Vashem complex the leaders visited the Grave of Theodor Herzl - Chozeh HaMedinah(lit. "Visionary of the State") pic.twitter.com/J8e4GAtJul - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 4, 2017

So that the light of humanity always shines through us. PM pays homage to 6 million lives lost in the Holocaust at Yad Vashem Memorial pic.twitter.com/qeRnTB518t - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 4, 2017

New fast-growing Israeli Crysanthumun flower named in honor of PM @narendramodi and will be called "MODI". Indeed, a #GrowingPartnership ! pic.twitter.com/xj00nW2yUk - Israel ישראל (@Israel) July 4, 2017

Reaffirming potential of deeper cooperation in Agriculture! PMs visit Danziger Flower farm-a leading facility for R&D in plant varieties pic.twitter.com/4Krb4lUu25 - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 4, 2017

"When it comes to Israel- #India relations, the sky is the limit!" - @IsraeliPM #ModiInIsrael #GrowingPartnership pic.twitter.com/cyDJ5vLsrz - Israel Foreign Min. (@IsraelMFA) July 4, 2017

#ModiInIsrael | Welcome, my friend, we love India, says @IsraeliPM @netanyahu to PM @narendramodi https://t.co/pWqrVdELeN - NDTV (@ndtv) July 4, 2017

Partners for peace and prosperity, partners for a better future for humanity...PM @netanyahu welcomes PM @narendramodi to Israel. pic.twitter.com/mZgl8pAqz2 - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017

India is an old civilisation but young nation. We have a talented and skilled youth, who are our driving force: PM @narendramodi - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017

I am confident of the real mathematics of life, of success of our partnership for many reasons; talent of our people: Israeli PM pic.twitter.com/7ES4CrP3FQ - ANI (@ANI_news) July 4, 2017

Eagle has landed. #ModiInIsrael pic.twitter.com/PaanwOGD8x - vijeta uniyal (@iUniyal) July 4, 2017

PM Narendra Modi arrives in Israel in the first-ever visit to the country by an Indian PM pic.twitter.com/UDwLMfKFaL - ANI (@ANI_news) July 4, 2017

Track Budget 2023 and get Latest News Live on NDTV.com.

Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world .

India Elections | Read Latest News on Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Live on NDTV.com . Get Election Schedule , information on candidates, in-depth ground reports and more - #ElectionsWithNDTV

Watch Live News:

• world affairs

How India Became Pro-Israel

W hen Hamas launched its unprecedented attack against Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people , Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, like most world leaders, condemned Hamas’s horrific actions and expressed “solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.” But the Modi government’s approach in the days and weeks that followed have set it apart from many non-Western peers. That divergence notably includes India abstaining from a U.N. resolution on Oct. 27 that called for a “humanitarian truce” (120 countries voted in favor).

India’s approach has surprised many observers for various reasons. First, the Indian government’s relative quiet about the plight of Palestinians in Gaza as the death toll tops 11,000 marks a departure from its consistent support for Palestinians since 1948. Even in the recent past, as India and Israel developed defense and commercial ties, New Delhi’s support for Israel was tempered by its historical ties. Second, through its presidency of the G-20 in 2023, India signaled its ambition to represent the voice of the Global South and ensure the developing world’s concerns get heard.

Historically, India has had a very different relationship with Israelis and Palestinians. During India’s struggle for independence from the British, the Indian anti-colonial movement supported Palestinian nationalists and India proposed a plan in 1947 to create an independent federal state of Palestine (with constitutional safeguards for the Jewish minority). The reasons were complex, stemming in part from the unease of India’s post-colonial, nationalist elites about the wisdom of creating what they perceived to be a settler state in the erstwhile British Mandate for Palestine. Consequently, when the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution in 1947 that recommended establishing the State of Israel alongside a Palestinian one, a newly independent India was one of the few non-Arab countries that voted against the measure.

Pragmatic considerations shaped India’s position. Indian leaders felt that they could not endorse a state that was founded on religious grounds, especially coming so soon after the violent Partition of India in 1947 that led to Pakistan’s creation, an outcome that they had staunchly opposed.

India formally recognized Israel in 1950. But Indo-Israeli contacts were limited given Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s fear of stirring opposition, particularly from Indian Muslims. At the time, India also wanted to present itself as a standard-bearer against colonialism and to demonstrate its solidarity with newly decolonized Arab states, which were being courted by Pakistan. In 1974, India became the first non-Arab country to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization as the “sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.” India again claimed another first when it became the first non-Arab country to recognize the State of Palestine when the PLO proclaimed it in 1988.

It was not until 1992 that India granted full diplomatic recognition to Israel, including the opening of the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi. With the Cold War over and the impending Oslo Accords—which sought rapprochement between Israel and the Palestinians—India chose to end its policy of keeping Israel at a calculated distance. Since then, the Indo-Israeli relationship has developed steadily, especially when it comes to defense cooperation. A turning point came in 1999 when India went to war with Pakistan over the disputed Kashmir region and Israel demonstrated its willingness to provide arms and ammunition. In recent years, India has purchased about $2 billion worth of weapons annually from Israel. India has bought missiles, drones, bombs, and border-security equipment, and is now the Israeli defense industry’s biggest foreign customer.

Modi’s election in 2014 put the Indo-Israeli rapprochement into higher gear. While previous governments had made sure to keep their dealings with Israel largely silent, the Modi government has been public in its engagement with Israel. Modi was the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel in 2017, which was reciprocated when Netanyahu traveled to Delhi in 2018. The ideological alignment between the two right-wing leaders has certainly been more apparent than with previous governments. Members of Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party have long regarded Israel as a model religious-nationalist state to potentially build on, in contrast to India’s founding as a secular and multi-religious one.

Still, India has reaffirmed its support for the Palestinian cause in recent years. Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister in 2018 to visit Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. India has also increased its donations to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. These various gestures were meant to remind both internal and external audiences of India’s complicated stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

India’s tilt toward Israel encompasses growing trade and defense cooperation, ideological and leadership affinities, and a focus on counter-terrorism cooperation. But India is aware of potential diplomatic costs and Modi has spoken to various Arab Gulf leaders to coordinate positions; earlier this month, India voted in favor of a U.N. General Assembly resolution that condemned Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Golan Heights.

The challenge for India ahead is maintaining the strategic defense and commercial ties with Israel while navigating its role as a Global South leader. It is a tight rope to walk.

More Must-Reads from TIME

• How Nayib Bukele’s ‘Iron Fist’ Has Transformed El Salvador
• What Makes a Friendship Last Forever?
• How to Read Political Polls Like a Pro
• Long COVID Looks Different in Kids
• What a $129 Frying Pan Says About America’s Eating Habits
• How ‘Friendshoring’ Made Southeast Asia Pivotal to the AI Revolution
• Column: Your Cynicism Isn’t Helping Anybody
• The 32 Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2024

Contact us at [email protected]

Tia Goldenberg, Associated Press Tia Goldenberg, Associated Press

Aamer Madhani, Associated Press Aamer Madhani, Associated Press

Leave your feedback

• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/biden-and-netanyahu-will-still-meet-during-israeli-prime-ministers-u-s-visit-source-says

Biden and Netanyahu will still meet during Israeli prime minister’s U.S. visit, source says

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads to Washington on Monday, leaving behind a brutal war to make a politically precarious speech before Congress at a time of great uncertainty following Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race.

WATCH: What to know as Biden drops out of the 2024 presidential race and endorses Harris

With efforts ongoing to bring about a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, rising concerns about the war spreading to Lebanon and Yemen, and the U.S. in the midst of a dizzying election campaign, Netanyahu’s speech has the potential to cause disarray on both sides of the ocean.

The risks only increased with Biden’s decision Sunday to drop out of the race for president, especially since the choice of a replacement Democratic nominee — and the potential next American leader — are still up in the air.

A person familiar with Biden’s schedule confirmed Sunday that the president will host Netanyahu at the White House. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, said the exact timing of the meeting has not been established because Biden is recovering from COVID-19.

Netanyahu is scheduled to address Congress on Wednesday. He is also expected to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris, who is seeking the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.

An official in Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the Israeli leader was set to travel to Washington on Monday. The official also spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement.

Netanyahu will deliver his congressional address with an eye on several audiences: his ultranationalist governing partners, the key to his political survival; the Biden administration, which Netanyahu counts on for diplomatic and military support; and Donald Trump’s Republican Party, which could offer Netanyahu a reset in relations if he is reelected in November.

His words risk angering any one of those constituencies, which the Israeli leader cannot afford if he hopes to hold on to his tenuous grip on power.

“There are a few land mines and pitfalls on this trip,” Eytan Gilboa, an expert on U.S.-Israel relations at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University, said before Biden’s withdrawal. “He is thought of as a political wizard who knows how to escape from traps. I am not sure he still knows how to do that.”

It is Netanyahu’s fourth speech to Congress — more than any other world leader. During his address, his far-right governing partners will want to hear his resolve to continue the war and topple Hamas.

The Biden administration will look for progress toward the latest U.S.-backed cease-fire proposal and details on a postwar vision. Republicans hope Netanyahu besmirches Biden and bolsters the GOP’s hoped-for perception as Israel’s stalwart supporter.

Upon receiving the invitation, Netanyahu said he would “present the truth about our just war against those who seek to destroy us.”

The war, which was sparked by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, has tested Israel’s ties with its top ally as never before.

The Biden administration has stood staunchly beside Israel. But it has grown increasingly alarmed about the conduct of the Israeli military, the continued difficulties of getting humanitarian aid into Gaza, especially after the short-lived U.S. military pier off Gaza coast, as well as Israel’s lack of postwar plans and the harm to civilians in Gaza. Similar concerns will likely persist if Americans elect a new Democratic president.

READ MORE: U.S. military’s Gaza pier, built to carry humanitarian aid, will be dismantled after weather and security problems

Biden earlier this year froze the delivery of certain bombs over fears they would be used in Israel’s incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which at the time sheltered more than half of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million.

The U.S. abstained from a United Nations Security Council vote in March that called for a cease-fire and the release of hostages but did not link the two. Netanyahu called the decision a “retreat” from a “principled position” by Israel’s ally.

Biden has had to walk a fine line of his own. He has faced harsh criticism from progressive Democrats and many Arab Americans. Even Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking elected U.S. Jewish official, lambasted Netanyahu in March for his handling of the war.

Some Democrats will likely demonstrate their anger toward Biden and Netanyahu by  skipping Wednesday’s speech . Netanyahu is also likely to be hounded by pro-Palestinian activists during his trip.

The last time Netanyahu spoke to Congress in 2015 was at the invitation of the Republican Party. The trip drove Israeli-American politics deep into the partisan divide as Netanyahu railed against then-President Barack Obama’s Iran nuclear deal.

Netanyahu has not shied away from making Israel a partisan issue. With his nationalist conservative ideology, he has been perceived as throwing his support behind Republican candidates in the past, rankling Democrats and Israelis who want to keep the U.S.-Israel relationship bipartisan.

It’s unclear if he will meet Trump. If there is a meeting, it could expose Netanyahu to accusations that he is once again taking sides. But if he doesn’t meet with Trump, the former president could feel slighted.

The speech also offers Netanyahu opportunity. He will be able to show Israelis that despite the tensions with the Biden administration, U.S. support for him remains ironclad.

“He wants the Israeli public to believe that he is very much still very welcome in the United States. And this shows that the American people are with him,” said David Makovsky, director of the program on Arab-Israel Relations at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

For critics of Netanyahu, that embrace is unacceptable and grants legitimacy to a deeply polarizing leader whose public support has plummeted. Netanyahu faces widespread protests and calls to resign over the failures of Oct. 7 and his handling of the war.

READ MORE: Israeli protesters block highways amid renewed calls for cease-fire with Hamas to return hostages

In a letter to Congress, 500 Israeli writers, scholars and public figures expressed their dismay over the invitation to Netanyahu, saying he will use the platform to advance misguided policies that align with his far-right governing partners.

“His only interest is preserving his own power,” they wrote. “Does the United States Congress wish to support such a model of cynical and manipulative leadership in these times?”

Israeli media reported that Netanyahu will be joined by rescued hostage Noa Argamani and her father. But for many of the families of hostages held in Gaza, the trip is an affront.

“This is not the time for trips,” Ayelet Levy Shachar, whose daughter Naama was kidnapped on Oct. 7, told reporters.

“Netanyahu: First a deal, then you can travel.”

Support Provided By: Learn more

Educate your inbox

Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else.

Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm.

Israel’s Netanyahu in the US: What to know about the visit, protests

Prime minister will seek to shore up US support for Israel, keep his governing coalition happy and dodge protesters.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting the United States and is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday.

Here is what we know about his trip:

What do we know about Netanyahu’s visit?

Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Monday for a visit that includes meetings with President Joe Biden, the main candidates in the 2024 presidential election — Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump — and the speech before a joint session of Congress.

The Israeli premier’s visit comes at a time of political upheaval in the US after a failed assassination attempt on Trump and Biden bowing out of the 2024 race for the White House and endorsing Harris.

Netanyahu will be the first foreign leader to meet Biden since the president’s announcement on Sunday that he will not seek re-election in November. He is also expected to meet Harris during his trip although it is unclear when.

According to reports, he is expected to speak to US legislators at 2pm (18:00 GMT) on Wednesday. This would be his fourth address to the US Congress — the most ever by any other foreign leader. Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill addressed Congress three times.

Biden has been a staunch supporter of Israel through his decades-long political career and has offered what he has described as “ironclad” assistance to Israel during its war on Gaza despite mounting criticism. Still, Republicans have accused the Democrat of not backing Israel as wholeheartedly as they would.

In his letter to Netanyahu inviting him to address Congress, House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said the Israeli prime minister would have a platform to share his “government’s vision for defending democracy, combatting terror, and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region”.

I am honored to invite Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress. pic.twitter.com/rYKx0Z1p93 — Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) May 31, 2024

What’s on the US-Israel agenda?

Before stepping on the plane on Monday, Netanyahu said he would emphasise the theme of Israel’s bipartisanship in his speech and said Israel would remain a key US ally in the Middle East “regardless who the American people choose as their next president”.

“In this time of war and uncertainty, it’s important that Israel’s enemies know that America and Israel stand together today, tomorrow and always,” he said, adding that he would meet Biden during his trip and thank him for his support of Israel.

As I departed for the United States, I thanked President Biden for the many things he did for the State of Israel during the war and his years as President, Vice President, and Senator. I look forward to my important meeting with the President. The following are my remarks… pic.twitter.com/mPcrXbkLUj — Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) July 22, 2024

Analysts said Netanyahu will deliver his congressional address with an eye on several audiences: his ultranationalist governing partners, the key to his political survival; the Biden administration, which Netanyahu counts on for diplomatic and military support; and the Republican Party of Trump, who, during his presidency, implemented policies long sought by Netanyahu, including moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal.

Avoiding upsetting any of these audiences won’t be easy, Eytan Gilboa, an expert on US-Israel relations at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University, suggested before Biden’s withdrawal. “There are a few landmines and pitfalls on this trip.”

Netanyahu is expected to focus on coordinating the Israeli and US response to the volatile situation in the Middle East, where there is a growing danger of the Gaza war spilling over into a wider regional conflict.

In Israel, Netanyahu faces growing calls for a deal that would halt the fighting in Gaza and allow the return of 120 captives still held in the enclave run by the Palestinian armed group Hamas.

Israel has also faced mounting global criticism over its war in Gaza, in which more than 39,000 people have been killed; over the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank; and settler attacks on Palestinians.

An opinion issued on Friday by the International Court of Justice that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory is illegal was criticised by Washington. But it followed similar developments, including a decision by the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor to seek an arrest warrant against Netanyahu.

While the US government and Congress have backed Israel, public support in the US for the war on Gaza has shrunk since October 7 when Hamas fighters attacked Israel.

Are protests planned in the US?

Netanyahu’s arrival led to a flurry of protests in the nation’s capital.

On Tuesday, hundreds of demonstrators staged a flash mob-style protest in the Cannon Building, which houses offices of members of the House of Representatives.

Protesters with Jewish Voice for Peace wore red T-shirts that read “Not In Our Name” and took over the building’s rotunda, sitting on the floor, unfurling signs and chanting, “Let Gaza live!”

Activists opposing Israel’s war in Gaza also plan protests at the US Capitol on Wednesday.

At 11am (15:00 GMT), thousands of protesters are expected to meet outside the Capitol to call for Netanyahu’s arrest over “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity”. Protesters will march around the perimeter of the Capitol, carrying a red banner symbolising a “red line” against the war in Gaza.

A coalition of groups is expected to participate in the protests, among them ANSWER, an acronym for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism; the women-led peace and human rights group CodePink; pro-Palestinian groups, such as the Palestinian American Community Center; and Jewish groups, including Jewish Voice for Peace.

CodePink told the Reuters news agency that organisers had arranged buses for human rights advocates to come to Washington, DC, from states across the country.

🇵🇸JULY 24: The people charge Benjamin Netanyahu with genocide! Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is being welcomed by Congress. We won't let a war criminal walk the streets of DC! 🇵🇸ALL OUT TO DC! 🗓️Wed. 7/24 🕚11AM 🔴WEAR RED – we are the red line! 🔗 https://t.co/dtZlQSK6Co pic.twitter.com/fj5djuWplM — ANSWER Coalition (@answercoalition) July 2, 2024

About 230 anonymous Capitol Hill staffers from 122 lawmakers’ offices have signed a letter made public last week that urges their bosses to either protest or boycott the address to Congress by Netanyahu.

Meanwhile, UnXeptable, a grassroots movement of “Israeli citizens around the world”, will hold a rally at a park directly outside the Capitol to protest against Netanyahu.

At 1pm (17:00 GMT), a “Peace & Justice Bloc” consisting of Palestinians, Israelis, Jews, Arabs and their allies will meet near the Capitol to call for a ceasefire, a deal for the release of captives and the end of the occupation.

All the signs show that Netanyahu is a persona non grata https://t.co/Zr5qUCQvOB pic.twitter.com/MC7LQrJ2dr — UnXeptable (@UnxeptableD) July 21, 2024

Who else will Netanyahu meet with during his visit?

Netanyahu is expected to meet Trump on Friday at his resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

“Looking forward to welcoming Bibi Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida,” the former president said in a post on his Truth Social platform, using Netanyahu’s nickname.

Watch CBS News

Israel's Netanyahu in Washington for high-stakes visit as death toll in Gaza war nears 40,000

By Haley Ott

Updated on: July 23, 2024 / 12:38 PM EDT / CBS News

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived Monday for a scheduled visit to Washington, one day after President Biden announced he would not be running for a second term and amid Israel's ongoing war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Ahead of his departure, Netanyahu said Israel would remain a key ally of the U.S. in the Middle East no matter who becomes the next president.

"In this time of war and uncertainty, it's important that Israel's enemies know that America and Israel stand together today, tomorrow, and always," Netanyahu said in a statement.

The Israeli leader is due to address both houses of the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, as well as speaking privately with Mr. Biden in a meeting tentatively scheduled for mid- to late week, depending on the president's recovery from a COVID-19 infection that was announced by the White House on Wednesday. He's also expected to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris during his visit.

"This will be an opportunity to thank him for the things he did for Israel in the war and during his long and distinguished career in public service, as Senator, as Vice President, and as President," Netanyahu said of Mr. Biden. "It will also be an opportunity to discuss with him how to advance in the critical months ahead the goals that are important for both our countries: Achieving the release of all our hostages, defeating Hamas, confronting the terror axis of Iran and its proxies , and ensuring that all Israel citizens return safely to their homes in the north and in the south."

Netanyahu met soon after arriving in Washington with family members of some of the roughly 80 hostages still believed to be alive and captive in Gaza.

"We are determined to bring them all back," the Israeli leader said. "The conditions to bring them back are undoubtedly ripening, for the simple reason that we are putting very, very strong pressure on Hamas and we are seeing a certain change, and I think this change will grow and we intend to do it, this is a war goal."

Netanyahu's visit comes after months of growing tension with Washington over how Israel has conducted its offensive in Gaza in the wake of Hamas' unprecedented Oct. 7 terrorist attack. 

His invitation to address a joint meeting of Congress was organized by the Republican leadership of the House of Representatives, who accuse Mr. Biden of not showing enough support for Israel amid its war with Hamas. About 1,200 people were killed in Israel during Hamas' attack, and some 240 others were taken hostage.

But Israel's response, a full-scale military operation in the densely-packed Gaza strip, has killed more than 39,000 Palestinians according to health officials in the Hamas-run territory. Protests in support of the Palestinian people, and against the Israeli leader's policies, are expected in Washington on the day of Netanyahu's address to Congress. 

His visit comes on the heels of an opinion issued Friday by the International Court of Justice in The Hague that found Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories to be illegal. It also comes as the Israeli military, having ordered Palestinians in Gaza to evacuate from parts of an area that had been designated a humanitarian zone, mounts new military operations in the south of Gaza.

The Israeli military said intense bombardment around the city of Khan Younis was based on "precise intelligence indicating that Hamas has embedded terrorist infrastructure in the area defined as the Humanitarian Area."

The Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health says more than 80 people have been killed in the operations around Khan Younis between Monday and Wednesday, including women and children, and scores more wounded.

Netanyahu has faced growing pressure to make a deal to secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a halt in the fighting, from Washington and from regular protests in Israel. The lack of a clearly stated plan for the administration of Gaza after the war, in particular, has drawn a rising chorus of criticism from both  current and former Israeli national security officials. 

"Part of the goal [of the trip] is to try to show that with all that's been said, with all the protests, Netanyahu is still the leader, still has support, he still has strong relations with America," Yonatan Freeman, an international relations specialist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, told the Reuters news agency.

Opponents have accused him of prolonging the war for personal political gain as he fights domestic corruption charges . Netanyahu has always dismissed the allegations against him as politically motivated.

On Tuesday, 15 former Israeli military, police, intelligence, business and public sector officials penned a joint letter to U.S. congressional leaders on Tuesday warning that Netanyahu's Washington "visit prioritizes his personal political survivability over our shared interests."

"Netanyahu has lost the support of the Israeli people and is trying to shore up his domestic coalition through a show of force in the United States," the letter, a copy of which was shared with CBS News, states. "Congress will be hosting a leader without a mandate and one who is facing prosecution for major crimes ."

• Benjamin Neta​nyahu

Haley Ott is the CBS News Digital international reporter, based in the CBS News London bureau.

More from CBS News

Father of Israeli-American hostage urges cease-fire, hostage deal

Large-scale polio vaccination campaign begins in Gaza

Father of captive says deaths of 6 Israeli hostages "never had to happen"

Who were the 6 hostages whose bodies were recovered in Gaza?

What is the 'Philadelphi corridor' and why is it a sticking point in Israel-Hamas talks?

It’s a small sliver of land, but it’s become a major sticking point in talks between Israel and Hamas .

The so-called Philadelphi c orridor has emerged as a critical factor holding up a cease-fire deal that would end the monthslong war in the Gaza Strip and secure the release of hostages still held in the enclave.

Outcry over the killing of six hostages has intensified pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with President Joe Biden saying Monday that he was not doing enough to secure a deal . But Netanyahu signaled he had no plans to soften his stance on keeping troops in the area despite mass protests and internal disagreements.

So what is the Philadelphi corridor — and why is it so important?

What is the Philadelphi corridor?

The Philadelphi corridor, also known as the Salah al-Din axis, refers to a narrow strip of land just under 9 miles in length and around 100 yards wide that runs along the Gaza side of the coastal enclave's border with Egypt.

It includes the key Rafah border crossing, long considered a lifeline for Palestinians in Gaza — allowing crucial supplies of food, medicine and other aid to get into the strip and enabling the movement of Palestinians in and out of the enclave under a 17-year blockade imposed by Israel.

The corridor was set up as a buffer zone in accordance with the 1978 Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, with the aim of controlling movement in and out of Gaza and preventing arms smuggling between the Egyptian Sinai and the Palestinian enclave.

The area was under Israeli control until Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, prior to which Israel and Egypt signed the Philadelphi Accord, which allowed Egypt to send hundreds of border guards to patrol the corridor's borders.

In May, the Israeli military announced it had established “tactical control” over the corridor after launching a widely condemned offensive on the crowded city of Rafah in southern Gaza.

Israeli officials said troops had discovered some 150 tunnels along the corridor believed to have been used by Hamas to smuggle weapons and supplies into the enclave, though they said it wasn't clear if the tunnels had been used since Oct. 7.

What's the disagreement?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Israel must maintain a military presence in the southern Gaza border area as part of any truce deal, in order to prevent Hamas from using the corridor.

But Hamas has rejected any continued Israeli presence in the corridor, with key negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya saying in an interview with Al Jazeera on Sunday that unless Israeli forces withdraw from the area, "there is no agreement."

It's only recently that the Philadelphi corridor has emerged as a central issue in cease-fire negotiations, which have stalled despite a renewed push from the United States.

Washington has publicly blamed Hamas, but U.S. and foreign officials told NBC News that new conditions introduced by Netanyahu have also held up progress, including the insistence on control of Gaza’s southern border with Egypt.

Two people briefed on the negotiations told NBC News that Biden may offer a final “take it or leave it” deal to Israel and Hamas as soon as this week.

Still, despite mounting diplomatic pressure and domestic unrest, Netanyahu has remained defiant.

Calling the Philadelphi corridor a Hamas' "lifeline," the Israeli leader said during a news conference in Jerusalem on Monday that the strip was "central and determines our entire future."

"The axis of evil needs the Philadelphi corridor — we need to hold it," he said, at one point pointing to a map that appeared to erase the existence of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Netanyahu argued that if Israel were to pull troops out of the corridor, international pressure would make it difficult to return.

Egypt, a key mediator in talks, issued a blanket rejection of Netanyahu's comments Monday, dismissing his speech as an attempt at distracting "the attention of Israeli public opinion" and obstructing a deal.

‘Political spin?’

Netanyahu's insistence on maintaining control over the Philadelphi corridor at the expense of a cease-fire deal to free the hostages has also put him at odds with senior members of his own government.

Defense Minister Yoav called Sunday for Israel’s security Cabinet to convene and reverse the decision to stick to the demand.

“It’s too late for the abductees who were murdered in cold blood,” Gallant said in a  post  on X. “The abductees who remain in the captivity of Hamas must be returned home.”

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid also rejected Netanyahu's stance, labeling it "baseless political spin" that was "disconnected from reality."

"Israel evacuated the Philadelphi Route 19 years ago," he said Monday. "Netanyahu voted in favor of it both in the government and in the Knesset. For 15 of those years, Netanyahu was the Prime Minister and never thought of reoccupying the Philadelphi Route."

Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies, disagreed. He told NBC News that control of the corridor was essential to ensuring Israel’s future security.

“We cannot allow ourselves to return to the reality that we met on Oct. 7,” he said.

Still, Michael, who is also a member of the Misgav Institute for National Security & Zionist Strategy, said he believed any continued military presence in the Philadelphi corridor had to come with a clear timeline for troops to eventually withdraw.

He said he believed this could be accomplished within the span of a year.

“We are very experienced in building the barriers," Michael said. "It’s not so complicated.”

Lapid said he believed Netanyahu was appealing to the interests of right-wing members of the fragile coalition that has kept him in power.

Gershon Baskin, an Israeli hostage negotiator, offered a similar assessment. Netanyahu was “sacrificing the hostages on an altar of his own personal political survival,” Baskin said.

Chantal Da Silva reports on world news for NBC News Digital and is based in London.

Charlene Gubash is an NBC News producer based in Cairo. Gubash, a native Minnesotan, has lived and worked in the Egyptian capital since 1985.