India reportedly backtracks from cancelling missile deal with Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that India has put the Spike missile deal with Israel, which was reported to have been cancelled at the beginning of this months, back on track, Arab48.com reported.

“There are many positive thing,” Netanyahu said. “Before coming [to India] the deal was cancelled and after visiting India, the deal went back on track,” he added, according to Arab48.com.

Reuters reported Netanyahu saying in a short video: “Following talks I have held with my friend, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian government has informed us that it is putting the Spike deal back on track. This is very important and there will be many more deals.”

Indian reports have said that India feared the deal, worth $500m, would negatively affect its ongoing anti-tank missile programme, which is being developed by a local Indian company.

Read: India cancels $500m deal with Israel, opts for $72m worth of missiles instead

Speaking to reporters, Netanyahu hoped that “this visit will contribute to sorting out this issue.”

Netanyahu added: “I think there is a big possibility to reach a logical solution. We have to wait until the end of the visit. Our security relations are important and there are many issues surrounding them.”