PM Modi to address Madison Square-like event during historic visit to Israel

Sources say preparations are underway to hold a grand public event in Tel Aviv for the Indian diaspora

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set for a Madison Square moment in Tel Aviv when he makes a historic visit to Israel in July.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a rockstar-like reception at New York’s Madison Square Gardens theatre during a programme for the Indian community settled in United States. A similar event is being planned for Tel Aviv, targeting Indians settled in Israel. (AFP FILE)

Sources in the government said preparations are underway for a public meeting with tens of thousands in attendance, similar to the September 2014 event at New York’s Madison Square Garden theatre where the PM received a rockstar-like reception.

The event is planned for July 5. Modi will be in Israel on July 5 and 6.

“It will a Madison Square-type event,” a source privy to the matter told Hindustan Times.

The planners of the event have opened registration, targeting in particular around 75,000 Jews who migrated from India, particularly Mumbai and northeast, Indian citizens settled in Israel.

“Modi will be the first Indian leader to hold such an event with the Indian diaspora in Israel,” the source said.

In addition to Tel Aviv, Israel’s financial hub located along the Mediterranean coastline, Modi will also visit Jerusalem.

The Indian community includes 8,000 people from Kerala working nursing jobs and 500 who are studying in different universities.

A few dozen Gujarati families too are settled in parts of Israel, running diamond business.

The visit by any Indian leader to Israel in the past had been hyphenated with Palestine, but Modi will break this tradition.

Palestine president Mahmoud Abbas was on a four-day visit to India this month and had meetings with Modi.