A day after she held extensive discussions with Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas, External Affairs Minister, Monday, will meet the top political leadership of Israel.
Swaraj will meet Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu (who also retains the portfolio of foreign minister) and President Reuven RivlinReuven Rivlin. She will also discuss bilateral issues with Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel Tzipi Hotovely and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon.
The other important event in Swaraj’s itinerary will be to address Indian Community in Israel later today.
Many in Israel see Swaraj’s visit as a “build up” to the much-anticipated visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the region.
Netanyahu and Rivlin are also expected to visit India after having received invitations from Mukherjee in October during his visit to the region – the first by India’s Head of State to the region.
Yesterday, during her visit to Palestine, Swaraj said that the entire Indian leadership remained steadfast in its commitment to the Palestinian cause as Palestine sought India’s participation in the West Asia peace process to help defuse crisis in the region.
India’s External Affairs Minister reaffirmed India’s support for the Palestinian cause, emphasising that there has been “absolutely no change in its policy in this regard”.
Describing India as “not just a friend but a brother”, Mahmoud Abbas applauded New Delhi’s consistent support for the Palestinian cause.