Benjamin Netanyahu thanks PM Modi for rescuing Israelis during Nepal quake

Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has thanked his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for his "superb" cooperation and saving lives of many Israeli tourists during the rescue operation in earthquake hit Nepal earlier this year.

Meeting on the sidelines of the Paris Climate summit yesterday, Netanyahu said, "I have to also say that your cooperation in the disaster in Nepal was superb".

The Israeli Premier had also called Modi during the rescue operation to?thank him for providing helicopters to assist with the rescue of Israelis (from Nepal) and permitting Israeli relief planes to land in India.

As many as 700 Israeli tourists were in Nepal when two major earthquakes hit the Himalayan nation in April and May this year, killing over 9,000 people and leaving behind a trail of devastation.

India had fast-tracked customs clearance for Israeli relief supplies traveling to Nepal, besides allowing use of Indian airspace. India also provided helicopters to assist with the rescue of Israeli tourists.

Netanyahu also thanked the Indian leader for extending invitations to himself and the Israeli President and said that he was looking forward to it "as a historic visit".

"We have the best of relations and that can be made even better," the Israeli Prime Minister said.

The Indian Prime Minister expressed happiness at the ongoing interaction between the two of them.

"I am happy that often we can talk easily on telephone, we can discuss everything. It has very rarely happened. In your case it has happened", Modi told Netanyahu.

The Israeli Premier promptly responded saying, "in your case too".

The chemistry between the two leaders has received a lot of publicity in the local media in the past.

Netanyahu often describes Modi as his friend and the media here has often credited this relationship for some of the "unprecedented" developments in the ties between the two nations.