Currently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on a six-day visit to India with a view to enhance 25 years of diplomatic relations between Israel and India. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already fortified the bond last year when he visited Israel, thus becoming the first PM to visit the country.
Israeli Prime Minister visited Rashtrapati Bhavan where he was given a ceremonial reception today. He also inspected the Guard of Honour. Experts state that Netanyahu’s six-day visit to India is quite important and crucial to both countries.
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However, it’s important to note that both Israel and India have a strong connection.
The community of Jews (a minority) exists in our nation for several years without any instances of anti-Semitism. Jews had been living in India for over 2,000 years which makes Judaism be the first foreign religions to enter the country. Jewish refugees came to India via sea route from Judea (Southern Palestine) and settled in India. Then, they migrated to several areas like Mumbai, Cochin (Kochi), Kolkata, Himachal Pradesh, among many others, and never left
In 1948, about 70,000 Jews migrated to Israel after the creation of the modern state, however, some of them stayed back. And now the population of Jews in India stands at 4,650, as per 2001 Census.
In 2017, PM Modi’s trip to Israel was considered as a great importance for the Israelis as well as Indian Jews who migrated from Israel. The Jewish community in India is the fourth largest in Asia after Israel, Russia and Iran.
Now there are several Jewish landmarks in India and one should visit to taste the flavour of Israel in India. Several landmarks still exist in Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai and many more places across India.
Indian Jews are waiting for a minority status in India with all alacrity.