New Delhi: Prime Minister NarendraModi has said cross-border terrorism is a major challenge for India and Israel as divisive forces across border are trying to disrupt the unity of both nations.

“Terrorism is a global menace. India and Israel are not immune to it either. We are in full agreement that elements which perpetrate violence on innocent people should not be allowed to flourish,” PM Modi told the newspaper Israel Hayom in an interview, a day before his visit to Israel.

“From boosting economic ties to furthering people-to-people interactions, my Israel visit has a wide range of programmes”, Modi tweeted. 

PM said, “Cross-border terrorism is a major challenge for us. Divisive forces across our border are trying to disrupt the unity of our nation. These troublemakers often misuse religion as a tool to misguide youth in our country and our region.”

“Terrorism should not be equated with any particular religion. India and Israel could cooperate even more closely and complement each other's efforts to fight with the menace of terrorism,” he added.

“I look forward to holding extensive talks with my friend, @IsraeliPM @netanyahu, who shares a commitment for vibrant India-Israel ties”,  Modi remarked in another tweet. He also said the Israel visit has its own significance and would further strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. 

“My visit has its own significance... I am confident (it) will lead to further strengthening of our relations in different areas and also open up new priorities for cooperation,” PM Modi said. 

India, Modi said, believed in a two-state solution in which both Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist peacefully. 

"A final-status agreement should respect the sentiments and address demands of all affected parties. The key to finding a solution to this issue lies with the affected parties. 

"India supports all efforts to find an acceptable solution to all the pending issues, including Jerusalem." 

Modi recalled that he had visited Israel in 2006 as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. "I am happy to return after more than a decade, and I look forward to seeing the developments and advances Israel has made in this time." 

He said Israel was perceived in India as a technological powerhouse, a country that has braved many odds. 

“The way you transformed yourself from being a water-deficient country to a water-surplus country; the manner in which you made your deserts bloom, are all amazing accomplishments. All these images have made a deep imprint on my mind,” he remarked.

Modi said India-Israel ties had always been strong, and over the years they had been continuously expanding and diversifying. 

Asked if his decision to visit Israel implied a more pro-Israel posture in the UN, he said: "Our positions at the UN are based on the merit of specific issues and driven by our core values and principles... India is not in favour of singling out any country at the UN." 

PM said he was not looking at a traditional import-export relationship with Israel.