Ahead of an unprecedented snap poll on September 17, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has put advertisement banners featuring him along with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, in Israel.
Similar banners featuring US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, are also doing the rounds in the country.
The move is being seen as an effort by Netanyahu to lure support by presenting him in a “different league”.
Netanyahu’s campaign has focused on bringing out his close chemistry with the world leaders and trying to project him as a leader of unmatched stature in Israeli politics which is crucial for the country’s security.
Benjamin Netanyahu, who is the longest-serving Prime Minister in Israel’s history, faces a tough re-election bid this time.
Talking about India-Israel ties, the two countries share strong economic, military and strategic relationship that has strengthened in recent years.
Benjamin Netanyahu was the first world leader to congratulate PM Modi for scripting an “impressive victory” in the Lok Sabha elections and had vowed to strengthen “great friendship” as well as bilateral ties with India.
The Israeli Premier will be travelling to India on a day-long visit on September 9 to meet Modi, just eight days before the repeat polls in the Jewish state.
Giving a glimpse of the friendly ties, the Israel Prime Minister on Sunday wished PM Narendra Modi on International Friendship Day.
A tweet, posted by the Israeli embassy in India, read, “Happy Friendship Day 2019 India! May our ever strengthening friendship and growing partnership touch greater heights.” The tweet also included “Yeh dosti hum nahitodenge (We will not break this friendship)” song from the 1975 Bollywood movie “Sholay”.
Trump and Putin had announced major concessions for Israel to support Netanyahu’s campaign which some analysts saw as an attempt to intervene in Israeli elections.
