17-Member Maharashtra Delegation Begins Week-Long Visit to Israel
A 17-member delegation from Maharashtra, comprising individuals from all walks of life, began a week-long visit to Israel on October 3 to mark the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 massacre and engage with local communities. Scheduled to run through October 9, the visit is taking place under the banner of 'Am Yisrael Chai', which translates to 'The people of Israel live'. The journey comes on an official invitation extended directly by the Israeli government.
Among the delegates travelling from Mumbai is Jagdish Shetty, who serves as the secretary of the Indo-Israel Friendship Association. The delegation's itinerary includes major locations and historic landmarks across the country, covering Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa, alongside scheduled visits to the Gaza Border, the Dead Sea, and the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Centre.
The trip coincides with widespread attention and global buzz surrounding Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, who recently thwarted a planned terror plot. According to reports, an aircraft flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv carrying a majority of Israeli Jewish passengers was targeted to be weaponised and crashed in the style of the September 11 attacks before Machchhar and an Omani co-pilot stepped in to prevent the incident.
As Machchhar’s heroics resonated everywhere, Shetty noted that while the delegation’s visit had been planned much before the flight incident occurred, the timing has reinforced ties between India and Israel. Shetty observed that the moment provided an ideal opportunity to flex bilateral friendship, stating: "It is an apt time to fly to Israel."
Outlining the mission and itinerary of the tour, Shetty said: "We are visiting Israel on an invitation from the Israeli government, and I am the secretary of the Indo-Israel Friendship Association. We are going to visit Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, and sites like the Dead Sea, the Gaza Border, and Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Centre."
Shetty explained that while formal meetings with leaders are planned on the schedule, the delegates expect to gain their deepest understanding through direct, cross-cultural engagements with citizens. "We are going to interact with some leaders, but most of our learning, I believe, will come from the local Israelis," Shetty said.
He added that everyday interactions would provide a genuine window into the nation, stating: "It is our on-the-ground experiences, ordinary people we meet on the roads, in the shops, at tourist sites, our guides, and cross-cultural conversations that will prove a true window to that country."
