NEW DELHI: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday he was 鈥渄isappointed鈥� by India鈥檚 refusal to back recognition of Jerusalem as his country鈥檚 capital but would not let it spoil his landmark visit to the Asian giant.
Netanyahu also vowed that Israel would 鈥渃atch up鈥� with the killers of a Jewish couple murdered in 2008 attacks in Mumbai whose son is accompanying him on a six-day trip to India.
The Israeli leader arrived Sunday at the head of the biggest business delegation he has taken on a foreign visit.
Netanyahu told the India Today media group, in an interview released Monday, that he has a 鈥渟pecial relationship鈥� with his counterpart Narendra Modi.
But the run-up was clouded by India joining more than 100 countries at the United Nations in voting last month to condemn Washington鈥檚 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel鈥檚 capital.
鈥淣aturally I am disappointed but I think this visit is a testament to the fact that our relationship is moving forward on so many fronts,鈥� Netanyahu said in the interview.
Ahead of the visit, India also canceled a $500 million deal for Israeli Spike anti-tank missiles.
Israel exports an average of $1 billion of military equipment each year to India, but Modi wants to end India鈥檚 status as the world鈥檚 top defense importer.
But Netanyahu was again optimistic on the missile deal.
鈥淚 hope that this visit can help resolve this issue because I think there is a reasonable chance we can reach an equitable solution,鈥� he said.
Declaring that no details could be given until the end of his tour, Netanyahu added: 鈥淥ur defense relationship is quite significant and it encompasses many things.
鈥淚 think the keyword is defense. We want to defend ourselves. We are not aggressive nations, but very committed to making sure that noone can commit aggression against us.鈥�
Netanyahu is the first Israeli leader to visit India in 15 years.
The prime minister and his wife Sara were welcomed at New Delhi airport by Modi, who made history in July when he became the first Indian leader to visit Israel.
Modi also stressed how the 鈥渉istoric鈥� visit would 鈥渇urther cement the close friendship between our nations.鈥�
Netanyahu expects to sign new agreements in energy, aviation and cinema production. He is to visit the Taj Mahal and Modi鈥檚 home state of Gujarat as well as hold meetings with Bollywood stars in Mumbai.
But he will also make an emotional visit to a Jewish center targeted in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, a symbolic gesture to India鈥檚 tiny Jewish community.
Netanyahu is accompanied by 11-year-old Moshe Holtzberg whose parents were among 166 people killed by Pakistani militants in co-ordinated attacks on the city.
鈥淯ltimately we will catch up with the killers but the objective is also to prevent future killers,鈥� Netanyahu said in the interview.
Netanyahu disappointed by ally Modi鈥檚 Jerusalem rejection
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