Jerusalem : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his party's victory in India's general election, expressing optimism for a strengthened Indo-Israel partnership. In the election results for all Lok Sabha constituencies, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 240 of the 543 seats, while the Congress won 99 seats.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance surpassed the majority threshold of 272 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha. Netanyahu tweeted on social media platform X, "I offer my heartfelt congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his reelection for a third consecutive term. May the bond between India and Israel continue to reach new heights.
Badhaai Ho!" Modi made history as the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel, following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1992. His visit in July 2017, widely covered in the media, was viewed as a significant step in reshaping India's regional relationships, particularly regarding the Israel-Palestinian conflict and New Delhi's diplomatic balancing efforts.
During his visit, Modi also traveled to the West Bank, emphasizing India's connections with Palestine while omitting a stop in Israel. Netanyahu and Modi's close relationship drew attention in Israel, with their apparent camaraderie highlighted by a viral image of the two leaders walking barefoot on an Israeli beach.