Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he owes India a “great personal debt” because he met his wife at an Indian restaurant in Tel Aviv. He made the remark during a joint press statement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Netanyahu said his first or second date with Sara took place at the Indian restaurant. He described the food as “unbelievable” and called it a great first date. He added that the experience left a lasting impression.
The restaurant was run by Reena Pushkarna, an Indian-origin chef known in Israel as the “Curry Queen.” She introduced authentic Indian cuisine to Israel and became a cultural bridge between the two nations. She also oversaw culinary preparations during Modi’s earlier state visit.
Netanyahu had shared the same anecdote when he hosted Modi in 2017.
Modi began his two-day visit by meeting Netanyahu in Tel Aviv. Netanyahu and his wife welcomed him at the airport with a guard of honour.
Both leaders pledged to deepen defence cooperation. They agreed to pursue joint development and production of military equipment. Modi said India’s security interests align with peace in the Middle East and voiced support for the Gaza Peace Initiative.
