Netanyahu India trip off, Israeli media says.
Benjamin Netanyahu has once again postponed his trip to India, which was scheduled for later this year. The trip was postponed due to security concerns, according to a report by a Zionist media outlet. Following a deadly attack in New Delhi two weeks ago, the worst in more than a decade, which left at least 15 dead and dozens injured.
On Monday evening, a blast near the historic Red Fort killed at least 15 people and injured dozens more. It is the first such blast in the heavily guarded city of more than 30 million people.
Netanyahu, who last visited India in 2018 and was due to meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, is expected to set a new date for the trip next year, pending security assessments, i24 reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Netanyahu had previously been reported to be planning to visit India before the end of the year. This is the third time this year that the Israeli prime minister has cancelled a planned trip to India.
Netanyahu’s visit to India is widely seen domestically as an attempt by him to show his global acceptance.
Netanyahu last visited India in January 2018, while Modi visited Tel Aviv in 2017, becoming the first Indian prime minister to visit the occupied territories. As such, the close relationship between Modi and Netanyahu has been discussed in the media.