J-K developments India’s internal matter, says Israeli envoy

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Israel Ambassador Ron Malka addressing the Indian Association of Foreign Affairs Correspondents in New Delhi on Friday.

New Delhi, September 6: Israel on Friday maintained that the developments in Jammu and Kashmir was India’s internal matter and as the biggest democracy it would deal with it in a democratic and peaceful way.

“What happened in Jammu and Kashmir is within Indian border and India’s issue. As we know India is the biggest democracy, respects individual rights and rule of law…will deal with the issue in a democratic and peaceful way,” Israel Ambassador Ron Malka told a group of journalists responding to a question on the development.Interacting with Indian Association of Foreign Affairs Correspondents, Malka said the India-Israel strategic relationship besides security, now encompassed a wide area, including agriculture and water management.

He said that after successful work of 28 Centres of Excellence in agriculture, Israel is working to develop a cluster as Villages of Excellence to benefit farmers and rural areas.Israel, he said, is in sync with India mission to double farmers’ income and working closely also to provide assistance for efficient use and re-use of water.

“You can benefit from our experience. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel or commit the mistakes we made in regard to water use,” he said.

Another area of expertise that Israel is working closely with India is Cyber Security, especially in power sector.

Malka, who has experience in financial sector, said that soon Indian and Israeli companies would be dual-listed in stock exchanges of Bombay and Tel Aviv.