TIL Desk/National/World/Tel Aviv/ While addressing the Indian diaspora, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Israel is the land of martyrs and the country has proved that size and number doesn’t matter for them. Praising Israel and its people, Modi added that every nation’s development is in the spirit and self-determination of its citizen and not in its size.
“Israel is the land of martyrs. Many families here must have a personal story of sacrifices. They have personal tales of martyrdom. I bow to their valor,” Modi said.”Numbers and size doesn’t matter, Israel has proven that,” Modi said.
Modi also said that People of Indian origin in Israel will get the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards even if they have undergone the compulsory army service. PM Modi, who is scheduled to visit the city of Haifa on Thursday to pay homage to the Haifa Indian Cemetery, also pointed out the role of role of Indian soldiers in the liberation of Jerusalem and Haifa.
The Haifa Indian Cemetery is a homage to Indian war heroes who laid down their lives in world wars during the liberation of Haifa. Indian Army, every here on September 23 marks ‘Haifa Day’. “I pay my homage to Second Lieutenant Ellis Aston, who was known by the name ‘Indian Aston’. He served in Maratha light infantry. Indian soldiers had played a role behind the independence of Haifa. I’m going there to pay homage,” Modi said.
