India, Israel should cooperate to checkmate terror: Krishna

Israel is a "natural ally" of India, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said on Tuesday as he sought a strategy with the Jewish state to "checkmate" the scourge of international terrorism.

Krishna, the first Indian foreign minister to visit Israel in over a decade, met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said, international terrorism is a "problem" for both countries and emphasised on need for greater bilateral trade relations.

"India is a natural ally of Israel in all these frontiers of science. I look forward to an increased economic content to our existing areas of cooperation," he said, ahead of his breakfast meeting with Netanyahu.

Krishna said India has learnt so much from Israel, particularly in the field of agriculture and science and technological innovation.

Krishna said terrorism is a "problem" that is being commonly faced by both Israel as well as India.

"So I think we will have to workout a strategy as how we address ourselves to the scourge of international terrorism which has become a curse for the entire humanity. "I think our efforts should be to checkmate it and ultimately eradicate terror from the face of the earth," Krishna said.

Netanyahu responded by saying that he was looking forward to discussing "all areas of cooperation".

Krishna's comments came in the backdrop of increasing cooperation between Tel Aviv and New Delhi in the field of homeland security and defence. On Monday, Krishna called on Israeli President Shimon Peres who described India as the "greatest democracy on earth".

He also said Israel wants New Delhi to become a permanent member of the expanded United Nations Security Council.

Peres said Tel Aviv was following New Delhi with "great care and interest". Israel has emerged as the second biggest defence supplier to New Delhi after Russia. From a buyer-seller relationship, both India and Israel are now trying to branch out to joint research and development initiatives.

Sources said that after Mumbai attacks, India recognised Israel's expertise in Homeland Security and related sectors. Many Israeli companies are active in India providing their services to the public and private sectors.

Both the countries are in discussion on a Free Trade Agreement and Israeli Prime Minister on Tuesday said he believes that it will have a multiplier effect on the bilateral trade volume.

The bilateral trade and economic relations have progressed rapidly in recent years. From a mere USD 200 million in 1992, the bilateral trade with Israel was expected to reach USD 5 billion by last year-end. The figure does not include defence purchases.