A heated discussion took place in the Parliamentary Standing Committee about the purpose and impact of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Israel. Opposition members questioned whether India’s traditional support for Palestine has changed, especially as more than 70,000 people have reportedly died in the Gaza conflict over the past two years. The committee also pointed out that the budget allocation for the External Affairs Ministry has increased by only 7.8 percent, which they said may not be enough to handle current inflation. During the meeting, MPs raised concerns about whether the Prime Minister’s Israel visit could affect India’s independent foreign policy, particularly at a time when US military actions in the region have increased. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit Israel for two days, during which he will address the Israeli Parliament and hold talks with Israeli leaders to strengthen cooperation in defense, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the visit has been planned keeping in mind security concerns and India’s long-term strategic interests.
