Israeli PM Netanyahu Postpones India Visit Following Security Concerns After Delhi Terror Attack

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed his scheduled visit to India where he was set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The decision came following security concerns in the wake of a devastating terror attack in New Delhi two weeks ago, which resulted in at least 15 fatalities and dozens of injuries, marking the worst attack in the capital in over a decade.

According to i24NEWS, citing sources, "Netanyahu, who last visited India in 2018 and was set to return for meetings with PM Modi, is now expected to seek a new date next year pending security assessments."

Reports had previously indicated that Netanyahu was planning to visit India before year's end. This marks the third cancellation of Netanyahu's planned trip to India this year.

Previously, the Israeli leader canceled a one-day visit scheduled for September 9, citing scheduling conflicts due to Israel's unprecedented repeat elections on September 17. He had also canceled an earlier planned visit before the April elections.

Netanyahu's visits to India are widely interpreted in Israel as efforts to demonstrate his global acceptance. In July, his political party displayed banners featuring Netanyahu alongside PM Modi, US President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, aiming to portray him as belonging to a "different league" of world leaders.

His campaign strategy has emphasized his close relationships with global leaders, attempting to present himself as a uniquely qualified figure in Israeli politics, essential for the nation's security interests.

Netanyahu's last visit to India took place in January 2018, while PM Modi made a historic trip to Tel Aviv in 2017, becoming the first Indian prime minister to visit the Jewish state. The strong personal rapport between the two leaders has frequently been a topic of discussion in both Indian and Israeli media.