The Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, had a meeting with the Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon at the defence headquarters in Tel Aviv recently. The Home Minister was accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Indian Ambassador to Israel.

The Ministers emphasised the priority accorded by both sides to the bilateral relationship and agreed to continue to cooperate in various areas, in particular in the defence sector. Rajnath Singh outlined various policy changes and decisions taken by the Government of India and referred in particular to the relaxation in the foreign direct investment limits in the defence sector. He urged the Israeli defence sector to participate in the ‘Make in India’ programme. The Israeli Defence Minister said that Israel wanted to develop relations in the defence sector and to discuss the possibility of transferring cutting-edge technologies for manufacturing in India.

The two leaders discussed the regional scenario and the threat posed by terrorism not only to India and Israel but also the world in general. A number of areas of specific cooperation were discussed, including protection of border areas and information sharing.