“India Has a Positive Role to Play in West Asia”: Israeli Envoy Reuven Azar

Ambassador Highlights India’s Support for Israel and Growing Strategic Ties

Israel Engages with India Amid Intensifying Strikes on Hamas Targets

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🔹 Israel Acknowledges India’s Growing Influence in West Asia

Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, has emphasized India’s positive role in West Asia, highlighting New Delhi’s support for Israel’s right to self-defense and its firm stance against terrorism.

🗣️ Key Statement by Ambassador Azar:

“We are engaged in conversations with the Indian government. India has a positive role to play in the region and has been very supportive of our right for self-defense. India does not surrender to terrorism, and I don’t think that it expects Israel to surrender to terrorism.”

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🔹 Israel Intensifies Strikes Against Hamas in Gaza

🔴 Latest Developments:
✔️ Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched extensive airstrikes on Hamas targets in Gaza early Tuesday.
✔️ The operation was authorized by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz.
✔️ The strikes follow Hamas’s repeated refusal to release hostages and its rejection of negotiation proposals from US and international mediators.

📌 Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office Declared:
🗣️ “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength.”

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🔹 India, Israel, and the US Deepening Economic and Security Ties

Speaking on the India-Middle East Economic Corridor (IMEC), Ambassador Azar highlighted its strategic importance:

💬 “We were very encouraged by the visit of Prime Minister Modi to the United States. Both India and the US are close allies of Israel, and they want us to engage in this partnership of technology, logistics, manufacturing, and security.”

✔️ IMEC Overview:
🔹 Two corridors: East (India-Gulf) and North (Gulf-Europe).
🔹 Goals: Improve trade, logistics, security, and economic cooperation.
🔹 Benefits: Lower costs, secure supply chains, boost employment, and reduce carbon emissions.

India’s participation in IMEC is expected to enhance its influence in West Asia, strengthening economic and strategic ties with both Israel and the US.