Israel PM Netanyahu thanks PM Modi for protecting Israel Embassy and diplomats after explosion
The government promptly went into overdrive to reassure Israel that it would take all steps to protect the embassy and its diplomats as well as track down the perpetrators.
FollowIsrael Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday called PM Narendra Modi and thanked him for protecting the Israel Embassy/diplomats after a minor explosion outside the Israel Embassy on Friday.
PM Modi in reply said India-Israel will jointly work and cooperate in the fight against terrorism. And also held a detailed conversation on Covid-19 vaccine production and collaboration.
The “very low intensity” explosion was reported in the national capital’s high-security zone at 5.05 pm, around the same time that President Ramnath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were attending the Beating Retreat ceremony less than 2 km away.
The government promptly went into overdrive to reassure Israel that it would take all steps to protect the embassy and its diplomats as well as track down the perpetrators.
No one was injured but window panes of three cars parked near the embassy were shattered, witnesses said.
The explosion coincided with the anniversary of India and Israel establishing full diplomatic relations on January 29, 1992.
Earlier, Foreign minister S Jaishankar phoned his Israeli counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi, with a bunch of assurances, pledging that New Delhi would spare no effort to trace the culprits. “We take this very seriously,” Jaishankar said.
Similar assurances were extended at different levels. Foreign secretary Harsh Shringla spoke with his counterpart Alon Ushpitz, secretary Sanjay Bhattacharyya, who oversees relations with West Asia, spoke to Israeli ambassador Ron Malka and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval dialled his counterpart Meir Ben-Shabbat.
