2008 Mumbai Terror Attack Planners Should 'Pay Heavy Price': Israeli Parliament Speaker Ohana

JERUSALEM: Those involved in planning of the "abominable" 2008 Mumbai terror attack should pay a heavy price for it, the Speaker of Israel's Parliament Knesset said ahead of his maiden visit to India, stressing that the fight against terrorism is a common concern for both countries.

Amir Ohana, considered to be a close confidante of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is scheduled to embark on a four-day visit to India starting March 31,

This will be Ohana’s first official visit abroad after assuming office in December last year.

Stressing on the fact that the menace of terrorism is a common concern, Ohana, said that the fight to counter it requires all the progressive countries to come together. Amir Ohana is a former Shin Bet (Israeli internal security agency) official.

Ohana said both India and Israel face the problem of terrorism, and the fight against the common menace is a joint one.

He strongly condemned the ‘abominable’ terrorist attacks on Mumbai in 2008 in which over 207 people were murdered, of which 178 were Indians. Incidentally, among the foreigners who were murdered were also Israelis and Jews who came to the Chabad house.

Ohana pointed out- "It was an attack not only on India but also on Jews and free people everywhere," adding that it was an attack on the shared values of India and Israel.

"Whoever planned and sent the terrorists from the terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba should pay a heavy price for it", the Knesset Speaker said.

Adding that the fight against terrorism is a necessity for all free countries, he said it is true particularly for two countries like India and Israel.

Shared values, concerns, pain and immense potential in the strategic partnership continue to strengthen Indo-Israel ties, Ohana said.

"When I had to decide where to go on my first official visit as Speaker of the Knesset, India was the most interesting option for several reasons," Ohana explained, saying that India is a major developing power, having many things in common with Israel and that no Speaker of the Knesset has ever visited the country.

He also spoke of the historical lack of anti-semitism in India and the deepening collaboration between the two countries in several fields.

During his visit to India, Ohana will be signing a cooperation agreement between the two parliaments with his counterpart, Om Birla, to facilitate knowledge exchange between the two institutions and hold a series of parliamentary, political and economic meetings.

Ohana is being accompanied by lawmakers Michael Biton and Amit Halevi, the chairman of the Israel-India inter-parliamentary friendship group.

The delegation is scheduled to meet President Draupadi Murmu, Minister of External Affairs S.Jaishankar, and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, among several other officials.

The delegation plan to pay their respects to the lost lives at the Chabad House, while visiting Mumbai. They will also meet the CEO of the National Stock Exchange during the four-day visit.

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