India, Feb. 23 -- Describing India as a "global power" and its Prime Minister NarendraModi a "personal" friend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday talked about his vision of a "hexagon" of alliances in and around the region that will include India. "This week, expression will be given to the special relationship that has been forged over recent years between Israel and the global power that is India, and between myself and its leader, Prime Minister Modi", Netanyahu said at the beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting.

"We are personal friends; we speak frequently on the phone and visit one another. I have visited India, and Modi has visited here," the Israeli Prime Minister said. "We waded together in the waters of the M...