Overview
- On Thursday, October 22, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu phoned Narendra Modi and formally invited him to light a torch alongside Captain Smit Machchhar at Israel’s Independence Day ceremony.
- Captain Smit Machchhar was seriously injured on September 30 after his Omani co‑pilot allegedly attacked him aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 and passengers plus reserve pilots forced an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- Both leaders used the call to welcome the sustained momentum in bilateral ties and to reaffirm the Special Strategic Partnership, with India stressing dialogue and diplomacy as the way to restore peace and stability in West Asia.
- Torch‑lighting is traditionally reserved for Israeli citizens, so Netanyahu’s invitation is an exceptional, symbolic honour; Machchhar is reported to be receiving treatment in the UAE and no formal travel or ceremony arrangements have been confirmed.
- The exchange publicly links individual recognition to shared counterterrorism cooperation and raises India’s diplomatic visibility in Israel, with the next steps to watch including any formal acceptance and logistics for the Independence Day participation.