Benjamin Netanyahu goes on a date' with Narendra Modi

“Almost 30 years ago, I went on a date in Tel Aviv in an Indian restaurant, and produced two fine children,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday while revealing that he got that eatery’s owner to prepare dinner for his “date” with Indian premier Narendra Modi.

Mr Netanyahu, who held wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Modi, and his wife hosted the Indian leader for a private dinner at their residence Beit Aghion here on Tuesday night.

During a joint press statement, Mr Netanyahu said that, “Almost 30 years ago, I went on a date in Tel Aviv in an Indian restaurant, and produced two fine children”, evoking laughter. “The food was great,” he added.

“So yesterday, I asked Reena Pushkarna, who was the owner of that restaurant, to prepare this dinner, for this date, and it was equally good,” he said.

The Israeli premier has accompanied Mr Modi almost like a shadow since Mr Modi landed here on the first visit by an Indian PM to the Jewish state, with both of them hugging each other at every possible opportunity. The two leaders have also constantly referred to each other as “my friend” and used superlatives while appreciating each other. During the press statement, Mr Netanyahu noted that “We are making history together”.

Talking about the dinner he hosted for Mr Modi, Mr Netanyahu said they also heard an Indian-origin Israeli singer sing a “hauntingly beautiful” Hindi song.