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Posted on 12/20/2014 11:25:30 AM PST by VeronicaCromwell

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent out a Hanukkah greeting in Hebrew on Friday, to the delight of many Israelis and Hebrew-speakers around the world.

In a post on Twitter, Modi wished his “Jewish friends a happy Hanukkah! May this Festival of Lights and the festive season ring in peace, hope and well-being for all.” The post was then sent out in English as well.

Relations between Israeli and India have been good for decades, but warmed significantly since Modi came to power in May.

Last month, the two allies successfully tested an advanced missile system, which was hailed by an adviser to the Indian defense minister as “an important milestone in the cooperation between India and Israel.”

The test came days after Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited Israel in the highest-level official trip ever for Delhi.

“Israel and India are at the cusp of a new era of increased cooperation in a wide variety of fields,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said while meeting Singh on November 6.

In September, Netanyahu met Modi in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss nuclear developments in Iran and expanding bilateral ties between Jerusalem and Delhi.

The meeting was the first between the Israeli and Indian premiers in over a decade, according to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.

Netanyahu reportedly invited India to participate in a joint effort on cyberdefense, a project that will aim to be a link between civilian and military authorities in both countries.

In October, India reportedly agreed to a $525 million deal to buy Israel’s guided Spike missiles, which were widely used during Operation Protective Edge.

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