Benjamin Netanyahu accidentally reveals why Narendra Modi did not visit Palestine during Israel trip

In a diplomatic goof up, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's comments made behind closed doors were made public when his staff seemingly forgot to turn off a mike attached to his body.

The comments, made to the leaders of Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia during a closed-door meeting, lasted a few minutes. The mic was finally turned off, but not before reporters managed to hear Netamyahu lambasting the European Union for its attitude towards Israel.

At one moment, Netanyahu, in a seeming attempt to burnish Israel's reputation over Palestine by citing his country's strong ties to India, referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the country.

According to Israel-based newspaper Hareetz, Netyanyahu told the gathered leaders, "Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he needs water for his people. Where will I get it? Ramallah? No."

Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the West Bank where countries (India included) that have diplomatic relations with Palestine locate their missions. Ramallah is also a traditional stop for most foreign heads of state or dignitaries visiting Israel.

Notably, Modi did not visit Ramallah during his Israel trip, an act that seemingly established India's growing tendency to de-hyphenate Israel and Palestine as far as foreign relations are concerned.

EU's BEHAVIOUR TOWARD ISRAEL IS 'CRAZY'

Netanynahu's comments about Modi were just part of what seems to be the Israeli prime minister's drive to get the European Union to agree to trade terms that are not contingent on Israel-Plaestine peace process.

"The European Union is the only association of countries in the world that conditions the relations with Israel, that produces technology and every area, on political conditions. The only ones! Nobody does it," Netanyahu reportedly tells the four eastern European leaders. "It's crazy. It's actually crazy."

Netanyahu then goes on to mention China and India, apparently citing them as example of countries that "don't care about" about the Palestine factor. "We have a special relationship with China. And they don't care. They don't care about the political issues. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he needs water for his people. Where will I get it? Ramallah? No," Netanyahu said, according to Hareetz.

Netanyahu also linked Israel to Europe development, saying that undermining Israel was the same as undermining Europe. "I think that if I can suggest that what comes out of this meeting is your ability perhaps to communicate to your colleagues in other parts of Europe: help Europe - twice. Don't undermine that one Western country that defends European values and European interests and prevents," Netanyahu said.

"There is no logic here. The EU is undermining its security by undermining Israel. Europe is undermining its progress by undermining its connection with Israeli innovation by a crazy attempt to create conditions," he added.

"We are part of the European culture," Netanyahu later says. "Europe ends in Israel. East of Israel, there is no more Europe."

Netanyahu also reportedly spoke about how Israel has ties to Arab state and about the United States's attitude towards Israel. The Israeli PM indicated his unhappiness with former President Barack Obama, saying that situation is different and "stronger" now.

The mic soon went off, seemingly after Netanyahu's staff released the goof up. Hareetz also posted a short recording of Netanyahu's comments on YouTube (this was edited by Hareetz; Netnayahu's full comments appear in its online report on the matter):

MODI IN ISRAEL

The comment about water and Ramallah that Netanyahu attributed to Narendra Modi purportedly came during the Indian prime minister's visit to Israel earlier this month.

The visit was marked by an unusual show of friendship between Netanyahu and Modi. The Israeli prime minister accompanied Modi, the first Indian PM to visit Israel, to almost all his destinations during his three-day trip.

Notably, the visit did not focus much on military hardware, which has been the centre-point of India's notoriously secretive relationship with Israel, with the two leaders signing agreements in and holding talks on areas relating to space technology, cybersecurity, agriculture and water conservation.

Notably, Modi's visit came just over a month after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visited India.

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