PM Modi arrives in Ramallah

Ramallah [Palestine], Feb 10 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Palestine's Ramallah on Saturday.

He was escorted by Israeli choppers and Royal Jordanian choppers on the way to Palestine. This is also the first visit ever by an Indian Prime Minister.

He laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in Ramallah. He will also sign the visitors book in the museum.

After a ceremonial guard of honour, Prime Minister Modi will meet with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Both sides are expected to sign various agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). This will be followed by a working lunch between the two leaders.

He will then depart to Amman's Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan, from where he will emplane for Abu Dhabi.

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Prime Minister Modi's visit to Ramallah in Palestine was the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister there.

Prime Minister Modi's visit to Palestine comes a month after India hosted Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On February 9, Prime Minister Modi arrived in Jordan, which is his transit to Palestine. The Prime Minister's Office expressed gratitude to King Abdullah II of Jordan for facilitating the transit.

After Palestine, the Prime Minister would visit United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman.

The Prime Minister will leave for the UAE tomorrow and then on the final leg, to Muscat on February 11, before returning to Delhi the following day.

Prior to Prime Minister Modi, former President Pranab Mukherjee and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had visited Palestine in October 2015 and January 2016 respectively. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI