Atal Bihari Vajpayee, 93, passed away on Thursday in New Delhi after a prolonged illness

Condoling the death of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Israel on Friday said that it will always remember him as a genuine friend.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the government and people of India at the loss of India's former Prime Minister Vajpayee," the Israel Foreign Ministry said on Twitter.

"He will always be remembered as a genuine friend of Israel," it stated.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, 93, passed away on Thursday in New Delhi after a prolonged illness. His funeral was held today.