Netanyahu invites Modi, pilot to light Israel torch — SkimNews
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- Benjamin Netanyahu invited Narendra Modi to light an Independence Day torch alongside Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, citing their shared fight against terrorism.
- Smit Machchhar fought off an alleged hijacking attempt by his co-pilot on flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, sustaining serious injuries.
- Smit Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door despite his injuries, enabling passengers and crew to subdue the co-pilot and avert a potential catastrophe.
- Flydubai flight FZ1073 carried 174 passengers and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after the cockpit incident, with passengers reaching Israel safely later that day.
- Isaac Herzog invited Smit Machchhar to Israel to confer the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism, recognizing his actions during the hijacking attempt.
- Narendra Modi and Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the invitation, with Modi thanking Netanyahu and affirming India and Israel’s joint efforts against terrorism.
Why it matters: The joint invitation elevates a counterterrorism act into a diplomatic symbol, reinforcing India-Israel ties at a time of regional volatility and domestic political pressure on Netanyahu. Machchhar’s recognition benefits both nations’ security narratives without requiring new policy commitments.
Ask SkimNews
