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One negative UN vote will not affect ties with India: Netanyahu on Jerusalem

WION Web Team
New Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Jan 15, 2018, 03:01 AM IST
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Israeli PM Netanyahu is on a six-day visit to India. Seen here with Indian PM Narendra Modi. Photograph:(Twitter)

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that even though the Jewish state was 'disappointed' by India's vote at the UN against Israel on Jerusalem, one negative vote will not affect ties between the two nations

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on a six-day visit to India, said on Sunday that even though the Jewish state was "disappointed" by India's vote at the UN against Israel on Jerusalem, one negative vote will not affect ties between the two nations.

"Yes, naturally we were disappointed, but this visit is a testimony that our relationship is moving on so many fronts forward," Netanyahu said when asked to comment on India's vote at UN against the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

"I don't think one vote affects a general trend you can see in many other votes and these visits," he told a media conclave in an interview.

India and 127 other countries last month voted in the United Nations General Assembly in favour of a resolution opposing the US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The resolution was approved with 127-9 at the UN General Assembly. 

The Israeli prime minister also described India-Israel relationship as a "marriage made in heaven" and said he hoped that his visit to India will strengthen cooperation between the two countries in various areas like technology, agriculture and other spheres that are changing the world.

"First of all, there is a special relationship between the two countries, between their people and then between the leaders. The partnership between India and Israel is a marriage made in heaven but consecrated on earth," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu said PM Modi was a "great leader" and was "impatient to bring future to his people".

The Israeli prime minister said his country was developing rapidly and is creating industries "out of thin air".

He said given India's importance in being a major auto dealer, it would be important for India and Israel to have a good tie-up between car manufacturers. 

Asked about his agreement with Modi on counter-terrorism, Netanyahu said the doctrine of counter-terrorism included having the intelligence to prevent it.

"You fight terrorism by fighting it," Netanyahu said.

"Our defence relationship is quite significant and comprises many things. I think the key word here is defence. We want to defend ourselves, we are not aggressive nations. We are very committed to making sure that none can commit an aggression against the either one of us," he said.

(With inputs from PTI)