PM Modi Announces New Flight To Israel, Rules Eased For OCI Cards: 10 Updates

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a three-day visit to Israel, the first by an Indian prime minister. Both PM Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu have hailed the trip as 'historic'.

 Jerusalem:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced a direct Delhi-Mumbai-Tel Aviv flight and simplified rules for getting Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, drawing loud cheers from the crowd at the Tel Aviv Convention Centre. It was for the first time in 70 years that an Indian Prime Minister had the opportunity to visit Israel, he said in the address to about 5,000 members of the Indian community. Showering praise on the audience, he said that Jews from India played a key role in the development of Israel. He thanked his host and Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu for being constantly by his side through his visit and said that he would "always remember the way he welcomed me to an Indian feast" at dinner on Tuesday.

Here is your 10-point guide to PM Narendra Modi's Israel visit:

1. PM Modi said Indian-origin people who had done the compulsory military service for Israel would now be eligible for OCI cards. He hailed the community and said innovation, science and technology will be bridge between two countries. "My Indian brothers and sisters toiled day and night to realise the dream of 'Make the desert bloom'," he said.
2. Before PM Modi's speech, welcoming him, Mr Netanyahu said, "These are the Jews of India. They love India, they love Israel, they love our friendship." He said the two countries "have a vast programme to take our ties to new heights. But we have a human bridge between us."
3. Earlier in the day, the two leaders talked of "shared priorities" and a partnership that "can help global peace and stability," after holding back-to-back meetings over four hours and signing seven deals, including pacts on agriculture and water management. PM Modi also invited the Israeli Prime Minister and his wife to India. Mr Netanyahu immediately accepted the invitation.
4. After their meetings the two leaders met Moshe Holtzberg - an Israeli child who as a toddler survived the 2008 terror attack at a Jewish centre in Mumbai. Moshe, now 11, read out a welcome note for PM Modi, saying "Dear Mr Modi, I love you".
5. Mr Netanyahu said both countries are "challenged by forces of terror" and that their meeting with Moshe Holtzberg is an "expression of our commitment to fight the bad and defend the good."
6. "Ours is a partnership to seek good, defend good and achieve good. This is indeed a good day," said Mr Netyanhu, adding, "We spoke about so many fields where we can make a big difference - agriculture, water, health...today, India and Israel are changing our world and parts of the world." "We are making history together," Mr Netanyahu said.
7. PM Modi said Mr Netanyahu and he "agreed to do much more together to protect our strategic interests." He said they discussed "the situation in West Asia and the wider region", adding that "it is India's hope that peace, dialogue and restraint will prevail."
8. PM Modi also said that thriving two-way trade and investment flows were the bed-rock of a strong partnership. The two leaders will meet top CEOs from both countries today.
9. Earlier on Wednesday, PM Modi, who is on a three-day visit, met Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in his first formal engagement and tweeted a photo, saying, "The President of Israel welcomed me so warmly, he broke protocol. This is a mark of respect for the people of India." Mr Rivlin recalled his visit to India last year and said PM Modi is "one of the greatest democratic leaders."
10. "I for I, India for Israel and Israel for India," said PM Modi, who was greeted with a warm hug by President Rivlin. PM Modi has said it is a "singular honour" to be the first Indian PM to undertake "this groundbreaking visit."