New Delhi, 28 October:  Anticipating a possible change of government in Tel Aviv in the light of the parliamentary elections held on October 27, the Modi government today reiterated that India will work to further strengthen its ties with Israel.

Amid uncertainty over Israeli election results, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Randhir Jaiswal underlined India’s strong relations with Israel saying that we will work to further improve and strengthen these ties in the coming days. As for the election results, let us wait and see what conclusions emerge,” Jaiswal said during the press briefing.

Jaiswal reiterated India's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Israel. The election results are being closely watched for their potential implications for Israel's political leadership and its foreign relations. India and Israel maintain cooperation across several areas, including defence, trade, agriculture and technology.

Today’s reiteration of New Delhi’s intent to further strengthen ties is a signal to the new regime which may replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu whose closeness to Prime Minister is rather very well know. The MEA’s statement needs to be seen as distancing with Netanyahu who is likely to face criminal charges in Isreal if he fails to recapture the prime ministerial chair, seasoned diplomats averred.

 
Meanwhile, India has lost 22 of its nationals, including 14 seafarers, in the ongoing war in West Asia in the last eight months, Jaiswal admitted today adding that the government was in close contact with the Indian community in the region to ensure their safety and well-being.

“We are deeply concerned with the ongoing conflict in West Asia. So far, we have lost 22 Indian nationals in the conflict, which includes 14 seafarers,” Jaiswal said during an MEA press briefing. “On our part, we have been in close touch with the community there so that we can do our best for the safety and well-being,” he said. The US and Israel bombed Iran on February 28 and assassinated their Supreme Leader and other top officials. Tehran retaliated by targeting US bases across the Gulf and restricting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route.

Several Indian crew members have been killed, injured or reported missing in incidents involving merchant ships since the war began. Many of the affected seafarers were working aboard foreign-flagged vessels, which can carry Indian crew members while operating under another country's flag,