Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invited two Indians to light an Israel Independence Day torch in Jerusalem. They are Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar. Netanyahu made the offer on 3 October during a phone call with Machchhar, his office said on X. The ceremony takes place each year at Mount Herzl. Israel usually reserves the torch for its own citizens, Netanyahu told the pilot. He also told Machchhar that the whole country would welcome him.
Why Israelis Prize the Independence Day Torch
The torch-lighting opens Independence Day at the grave of Theodor Herzl. It also closes Memorial Day, when Israel remembers its fallen. At 8 pm, the flag rises from half-mast, and grief gives way to celebration. Twelve torches stand for the 12 tribes of Israel. A public committee picks people who have served society in an outstanding way. Its rules ask for a mix of ages, regions, faiths and backgrounds.
Each lighter names the people or cause the flame honours. Each ends with the same words: “To the glory of the State of Israel!” The state has run the ceremony since 1950, and television carries it live. That mix of mourning, pride and a national audience gives the torch its weight. “It’s our highest honour that we give on our Independence Day,” Netanyahu told Machchhar.
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) also says Israelis see the torch as one of their top honours. An invitation to two guests from abroad therefore carries unusual warmth.
Why Netanyahu Chose a Pilot and a Prime Minister
Machchhar commanded Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on 30 September. His co-pilot attacked him with a cockpit axe in order to crash the plane that was full of Israelis. The wounded captain still opened the cockpit door, and passengers overpowered the attacker.
The aircraft carried 174 passengers and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu called Machchhar “a hero of the entire world”. Modi’s name on the invitation carries a different message. He addressed the Knesset on 25 February, the first Indian prime minister to do so. Netanyahu promised an “iron alliance” with India that day. Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana also gave Modi the first Knesset Medal.
Praise from Jerusalem, Delhi and Dubai
Praise for Machchhar has crossed borders within days. “You saved the spirit of the world,” Netanyahu told him, according to Daily Excelsior. Israeli envoy Reuven Azar had already said Israel would honour the captain. Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited him on 3 October. He conveyed the UAE leadership’s appreciation for the pilot’s actions, the report said.
Modi spoke to Machchhar on 2 October. In Puri, sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik sculpted the pilot’s likeness on a beach. Netanyahu has also promised a torch to the Israeli passengers who subdued the attacker. The captain and those passengers could therefore share one stage in Jerusalem.
A Friendship that Keeps Growing
The invitation builds on a busy year for the two countries. Netanyahu and Modi oversaw the signing of 16 agreements in Jerusalem in February. The deals cover fields from agriculture and education to technology and artificial intelligence. One agreement opens Israel to 50,000 Indian workers over five years. Modi also said India would soon finalise a free trade agreement with Israel.
President Isaac Herzog planted an oak tree at his residence to mark the friendship. Modi already holds one first in Israel. In 2017 he became the first Indian prime minister to visit the country. Argentine President Javier Milei lit a torch in April 2026. He was the first foreign leader to do so. Modi would be the second.
What Happens Next
Machchhar remains in hospital in the UAE. The Indian Embassy there described his condition as stable on 3 October. The embassy added that his recovery is going well.
Independence Day falls next spring, on the fifth of the Hebrew month of Iyar. Netanyahu told the pilot he hopes to see him in Israel very soon.
When that evening comes, an Indian captain and his prime minister could light a flame for two nations.