In a development which displays the strength of Indo-Israel ties and the growing respect for India at a global level, an election banner featuring the image of PM Modi with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has been spotted in Israel. It must be noted that elections are due in Israel for September 17 this year. An image of this election banner attached to the exterior of a building was reportedly shared by an Israeli journalist, Amichai Stein. Similar election advertisement banners featuring the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the US President Donald Trump have also been spotted on the same building.
The election banner was reportedly spotted at the Likud Party headquarters on Metzudat Ze’ev 38, King George Street. The banners depicted Netanyahu’s closeness with the three world leaders. A Hebrew text on top of the banner read, Netanyahu (in a) “different league”. Not only this, but the Israeli PM has also tweeted a video from his official Twitter handle. This video also features the three world leaders- US President Trump, Russian President Putin and India’s PM Narendra Modi. This video also seeks to highlight Netanyahu as a strong leader and a statesman, focussing on his excellent chemistry with world leaders. PM Modi’s part in the video includes some moments from the official visits by the two leaders to their counterpart’s countries.
נתניהו. ליגה אחרת. pic.twitter.com/07YGtjfXwL
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) July 28, 2019
The featuring of Prime Minister Modi in Netanyahu’s election campaign sends two messages essentially.
The Brand Modi is no doubt the strongest in the country. However, it is also evident of Brand Modi’s global reach and influence as even foreign leaders are latching onto his popularity to win over the voters of their respective countries. The advertisement also highlights the growing ties between the two countries. PM Modi and Netanyahu have displayed great chemistry with each and this display has taken the ties between the two countries to another level.
It must also be noted that the Israeli PM is set to visit India on a day-long visit on September 9, just eight days before the Jewish country goes to polls. Some analysts feel that this visit to India is going to be a photo-op moment as an effort to project his acceptance worldwide. It must be noted that India and Israel share close economic, strategic and defence ties which have only grown stronger in the recent past. PM Modi and his Israeli counterpart have shown really good chemistry whenever the two leaders have met. When PM Modi returned to power with a humungous mandate, Netanyahu was the first world leader to congratulate PM Modi for scripting an “impressive victory.”
The very fact that PM Modi features in an Israeli election advertisement along with the likes of Putin and Trump, shows how India has evolved as a rising power on the global scenario. Under PM Modi, India has emerged strongly as a major global player. Respect for India has grown to such a level that a world leader is actually flaunting proximity with India and its prime minister as a part of his election campaign. This election advertisement once again displays PM Modi’s effective foreign policy.