Israel Embassy blast: Modi assures PM Netanyahu of punishing perpetrators

Days after a low intensity blast outside the Israeli embassy in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu held a telephonic conversation to intensify counter-terror cooperation.Mr Netanyahu thanked PM Modi for his efforts to safeguard Israeli representatives in the aftermath of the terrorist incident. PM Modi assured his counterpart of safety and security of Israeli diplomats and premises.“All resources will be deployed to find and punish the perpetrators”, a statement by India’s external affairs ministry said. “Both leaders expressed satisfaction about the close coordination between Indian and Israeli security agencies in this context,” read a government statement.

Mr Netanyahu also congratulated PM Modi over the production of two coronavirus vaccines – Covishield and Covaxin – in India and the start of the vaccination drive.In a communication between National Security Advisors of the respective countries, Mr Doval assured Mr Ben-Shabbat that the incident was being probed by the Indian agencies. Mr Netanyahu had expressed “full confidence that the Indian authorities will do a thorough investigation of the incident and ensure the safety of Israelis and Jews who are there”.

“Israel is committed to the security of our people,” said Mr Ben-Shabbat. A statement by the Israel government said that “India would continue to cooperate with Israel in the fight against terrorism.”A letter was recovered after the incident that mentioned the assassination of two high profile Iranians — Iranian Major General Qassam Sulemani and nuclear scientist Mohsin Fakhrizadeh, with the Delhi Police Special Cell’s initial investigation suggesting the aim of the blast to send out a message to Israel on Iran.The Israeli foreign ministry said all its diplomats and embassy staff in Delhi are “safe and sound”.

Mr Modi congratulated Prime Minister Netanyahu on the successful vaccines operation in Israel and both discussed possible cooperation in the production and supply of vaccines to Israel. Mutual recognition of certificates of vaccination was also discussed.

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