Indian President Pranab Mukherjee wishes Israel 'happy Independence Day' 2 weeks in advance

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee has extended best wishes to Israel on account of its Independence Day, but unfortunately he got the date wrong. In an official statement released by the president's office, Mukherjee mistakenly identified Israel's National Day as 3 May, but the country would be celebrating the day on 12 May this year.

Israel was declared independent on 14 May 1948, and according to the Hebrew calendar, the day falls on 12 May (this year). Mukherjee wrote to his Israeli counterpart Rivlin Reuven: "Our common commitment to the safeguarding of our democratic institutions and our shared values of liberty, freedom and equality have helped in forging a deep friendship between our two nations.

"At the political level, our relations have been enhanced by frequent exchanges of visits which have served to deepen our mutual understanding and strengthen our resolve to work together to tackle the development challenges of the 21<sup>st century."

India and Israel have cherished good relations since establishing diplomatic ties in 1992. Both states enjoy mutual economic, military and strategic ties. The association between the two countries blossomed in June 2015, when the Indian president and Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel to strengthen ties.

As far as business relations between the two countries are concerned, in March 2016, Indian firm Reliance Defense and Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems signed an agreement worth an estimated $10bn (£6.8bn) at Defexpo India. According to the agreement, Rafael and Reliance will design missile defence systems, air-to-air missiles, and surveillance balloons for the Indian military. The association is expected to offer employment for 3,000 Indians at a facility in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.