4,000 Indian Jews Expected To Turn Out For Modi’s Israel Visit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

By Sam Kestenbaum June 16, 2017

Israelis with Indian backgrounds seem to love Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Approximately 4,000 Israeli Jews whose families have roots in India are expected to attend a keynote event hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a much-anticipated July visit to Israel, The Jerusalem Post reported.

“We expect a crowd of around 4,000 Indian Jews, who migrated to Israel, to attend the program,” Indian foreign policy department head Vijay Chauthaiwale told India’s Economic Times.

The event at the Tel Aviv Convention Center is aimed at “local residents of Indian origin,” according to the Post.

Israel is home to approximately 85,000 Jews with Indian roots. As many as 10,000 more Indian citizens — primarily caregivers — work in Israel, the Post reported.

Indian-Israeli ties have grown closer under Modi’s leadership, and he and Netanyahu frequently exchange pleasantries on Twitter.

Email Sam Kestenbaum at kestenbaum@forward.com and follow him on Twitter at @skestenbaum

Sam Kestenbaum is a contributing editor and former staff writer for the Forward. Before this, he worked for The New York Times and newsrooms in Sana, Ramallah and Beijing. Contact him at kestenbaum@forward.com and follow him on Twitter at @skestenbaum and on Instagram at @skestenbaum.

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