Unite against radical Islam: Netanyahu

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 16

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today called Islamic radicalisation a global threat that needs to be countered through strong political alliances. 

He was delivering the keynote inaugural address at the third edition of The Raisina Dialogue — the flagship ideating event of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

"Our way of life is being challenged. Most notably, the quest for modernity, the quest for innovation is being challenged by radical Islam and its terrorist offshoots from a variety of corners, and this can upset the international system. I think that one of the ways to overcome such a challenge is to strengthen the relationship between our two great democracies," Netanyahu said.

With Prime Minister Modi seated in the audience in a special gesture, Netanyahu stressed that a tiny nation like Israel is a force to contend with globally. "The weak don't survive. The strong survive. You make peace with the strong. You make alliances with the strong," said Netanyahu underlining the importance of Israel's alliances with strong democracies such as the US, Canada.

Netanyahu laid out military, economic, political powers and values as the four pillars required for countries to strengthen. Citing the example of erstwhile Soviet Union he said that societies collapse despite highly educated minds if they do not have economic power and business friendly environment where innovation happens. "Prime Minister Modi and I were talking about how we educate our youth. In the case of Israel, there's one big education machine. It's called the Israeli Defense Force, and everyone comes in and we give training, we give technology, we give an assessment, an understanding of the main techniques of technology that are important for the future, also for civilian future," he remarked.

Delivering the vote of thanks later, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Israel today is a reliable partner for India not just in defence and technology but also in agriculture and water management.

On Wednesday, Narendra Modi will join Sara and Benjamin Netanyahu as they travel from Ahmedabad Airport to Sabarmati Ashram where they will pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. The leaders will inaugurate the iCreate Center at Deo Dholera Village in Ahmedabad, visit a Startup Exhibition and interact with innovators and Startup CEOs. They will also dedicate a mobile water desalination van to Suigam Taluka, of Banaskantha district, through a video link. The two Prime Ministers will then visit the Centre of Excellence for Vegetables at Vadrad in Sabarkantha district and inaugurate the Centre of Excellence for Date Palms at Kukama, Kutch District, through a video link. The two Prime Ministers will also interact with farmers after which Netanyahu will depart for Mumbai.

Gujarat roadshow today

• Gujarat is set to roll out the red carpet for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he arrives in Ahmedabad on Wednesday along with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi
• The two leaders will hold a roadshow, which will begin from the city airport and end at the Sabarmati Ashram, a journey of eight kilometres
• Around 50 stages will be erected on the roadside along the stretch and people from different states will welcome Netanyahu

Jeep as Gift for Modi 

• The visiting Israeli Prime Minister will present his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi a special gift — the Gal-Mobile water desalination and purification jeep the two leaders rode on Israel’s Olga beach last year
• “It has reached Delhi and is on its way to Bhuj,” sources said. “There will be a live demonstration of desalination of sea water that the two PMs will witness through video conferencing from the iCreate centre on Janaury 17”

‘Shalom Bahut Khush’ 

• Moshe Holtzberg, the Israeli toddler who became the face of the Mumbai terror attacks on November 26, 2008, arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday to participate in an event marking the incident
• Now 11 years old, the bespectacled Moshe landed at the Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport to be greeted by a horde of media personnel
• “Shalom Bahut Khush,” he told the waiting reporters before being whisked away. Moshe was accompanied by his grandparents