PM Modi’s scheduled visit will be the first by an Indian premier to Israel.

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval held talks with Israel’s top leadership in Jerusalem as part of preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s likely visit, the first by an Indian premier to the Jewish country.

Modi is expected to visit Israel by the middle of this year. In preparation for Modi’s historical visit to Israel, Doval was on a two-day visit to the country. He landed in Israel on Wednesday and called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Jerusalem office.

Doval also met his counterpart, Israel’s acting National Security Adviser and Head of the National Security Council, Brig Gen (retd) Jacob Nagel. The discussions “revolved around Prime Minister Modi’s expected visit this summer”, officials said.

Doval left for India on Friday morning. Earlier this week, sources in the Ministry of External Affairs had indicated that the visit could take place somewhere around June. Netanyahu is also likely to visit India this year.

The two nations are celebrating 25 years of diplomatic ties this year. New Delhi formally recognised Israel on 17 September 1950. Embassies were opened in 1992 when full diplomatic relations were established.