PM Modi and Israeli premier Netanyahu spent some time on the beach and had a long chat standing ankle deep in the waters with waves hitting their feet on Thursday. Tel Aviv: Prime minister Narendra Modi and Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday made waves online with their camaraderie as a barefoot stroll on the beach, a discussion in ankle deep water and a toast to life with desalinated water reflected the warmth in their relationship.
The bonhomie between the two leaders was on ample display as they witnessed the demonstration of sea water purification technology pioneered by Israel at a water desalination unit on the Olga Beach in north Israel.
The two leaders spent some time on the beach and had a long chat standing ankle deep in the waters with waves hitting their feet.
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Modi had his trousers folded up as he entered the waters while Netanyahu came smartly dressed in casuals with a polo shirt.
The two leaders later drove together in the mobile water desalination unit, which looked like a dune buggy, and sipped desalinated water from wine glasses, raising a toast saying -- lehaim (to life) -- with desalinated water.
They took a barefoot stroll along the Mediterranean shore with Netanyahu later tweeting, "There's nothing like going to the beach with friends!"
Later, Netanyahu also gifted Modi a signed picture of them strolling barefoot at the Olga beach with a message hailing their friendship.
"To Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with deepest friendship on your historic visit to Israel," Modi tweeted the picture gifted to him by his Israeli counterpart.
Modi and Netanyahu's camaraderie created waves online with many discussing their "budding bromance".
The Israeli premier accompanied Modi almost like a shadow since Modi landed here on the first visit by an Indian premier to the Jewish state, with both of them hugging each other at every possible opportunity.
The two leaders also constantly referred to each other as "my friend" and used superlatives while appreciating each other.
Modi meets Indian students
Later in the day, Modi met with a group of Indian students pursuing higher education in Israel.
"It was great to meet Indian students studying in Israel," Modi said in a tweet.
The meeting, which took place at Dan Hotel, was the last program scheduled during the prime minister's historic three-day visit to the Jewish nation.
Addressing the Indian diaspora here at an event which was also attended by Netanyahu, Modi had on Wednesday said that almost 600 students from India are studying in different subjects in Israel and some of them are present here.
"My young colleagues, you are like the bridge of technology and innovation between India and Israel. My friend Netanyahu and I believe.... that science, innovation and technology will be the main base for the future relations between India and Israel. That is why whatever you are learning here, will help strengthen India," he had said.
This year, India and Israel are marking 25 years of their diplomatic relations.
Modi, who became the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel, signed seven agreements to boost bilateral cooperation in key areas like science and technology, water, research and space.
