Pranab Mukherjee to be the first Indian President to visit Israel

President Pranab Mukherjee is likely to visit Israel in mid-October this year. This will make him the first Indian head of the state to visit the country.

In 2014, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had visited Israel, laying the foundation of stronger relations between the two country.

Israel for its part has made multiple visits to India; President Ezer Weizmann in January 1997 and even Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in September 2003. However, there has been no Prime Ministerial visit from India to Israel so far.

The President's visit comes in the backdrop of the Modi government's efforts to improve relations with Israel. Prime Minister Modi is also expected to visit the country early next year.

The government has also been very careful in positioning itself vis-a-vis the Israel-Palestine issue. In July this year, India decided to abstain from voting on a UN resolution, condemning Israel's targeting of Palestinian civilians.