PM Modi Becomes First Recipient of Knesset’s Highest Honour in Israel

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was bestowed with the Speaker of the Knesset Medal by the Israeli Parliament, becoming the first recipient of the honour during his two day official visit to Israel.

The award, which is the highest honour of the Knesset, was conferred in recognition of his “exceptional contribution through his personal leadership” to strengthening strategic relations between India and Israel.

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the Prime Minister dedicated the medal to the enduring friendship and shared democratic traditions between the two countries.

"PM dedicated the medal to the enduring friendship and shared democratic traditions between the two countries," the post read.

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The medal was conferred after the Prime Minister’s speech in the Israeli Parliament, where he later interacted with members of the Knesset.

MPs took selfies and photographs with him, and he received a standing ovation during his address, which was marked by rapturous applause.

In his speech, PM Modi said there is great admiration for Israel's resolve, courage, and achievements in India.

"Long before we related to each other as modern States, we were linked by ties that go back more than two thousand years. The Book of Esther refers to India as Hodu. The Talmud records trade with India in ancient times," he said.

"Jewish merchants travelled across sea routes that connected the Mediterranean with the Indian Ocean. They came seeking opportunity and dignity. And, in India, they became one of us.

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Jewish communities have lived in India without fear of persecution or discrimination. They have preserved their faith and participated fully in society. That record is a source of pride for us," he added.

Earlier, Ori Kadvil, a member of the Jewish Indian community in Israel, praised India’s scientific and technological potential, saying he and his colleagues were amazed by the scale of hackathons in India.

Speaking to ANI, Kadvil said, "I am from the Jewish Indian community, from the Kochi community specifically... I told a friend of mine in India that we want to do a hackathon with 200 participants. He told me that in India, we have hackathons of 200 teams. I dropped my jaw, and so did my Israeli colleagues.”

“Everybody is amazed by the power and the potential that India has in science and technology. We wish to bring the powers of both of our countries together so we can create marvellous things for both of our people and the entire world,” he added.

He described meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "an interesting and joyous event," adding, "We shook hands. We are very honoured by his visit and also by the Ministers in the last several months."

Another Israeli resident, Yarin Didi, also highlighted the shared potential of India and Israel in science and technology.

"I am really proud to be here today... Israel is known to have great talent in terms of AI. But I think India has... The Indian market is thousands of times compared to anything I have personally seen before. Both have the talent and the huge economic potential to get innovation to a larger scale," Didi told ANI.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he was "delighted to meet" Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and his team in Jerusalem, underscoring discussions on bilateral cooperation and regional developments.

In a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, "Delighted to meet Israeli FM @gidonsaarand his team in Jerusalem this evening. Valued our wide-ranging and open conversation on our bilateral cooperation and regional developments."

(With inputs from ANI)