The visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel is a big story both in Israel and India. The Daily Mail’s Mail Online has its own separate site for Indian news and has devoted a number of articles to Modi’s trip.
There appeared, however, to be a deliberate attempt to erase Jerusalem, Israel’s capital city from the stories.
In “Modi visits Israel as a new chapter in Indo-Israeli ties looks set to begin,” it said:
All pointers indicate an upward trajectory and the visit of PM Modi to Tel Aviv should open a new chapter in Indo-Israeli relations.
In “India and Israel to talk TERROR: National security adviser Doval ‘paved the way’ for landmark Netanyahu and Modi meeting” it said:
National security adviser Ajit Doval, during his visit to Tel Aviv in March this year, prepared the groundwork for robust and more open ties between the two powerhouses in the fields of terrorism and security.
And:
In his visit, Doval extensively discussed the menace of terrorism that has badly affected both India and Israel and this would be the topmost priority in Modi’s agenda during discussions with his counterpart in Tel Aviv.
HonestReporting contacted editors at Mail Online pointing out that the references to Tel Aviv are simply an excuse not to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. PM Modi is visiting, meeting dignitaries and staying in Jerusalem while Ajit Doval also met with political and security figures in Jerusalem when he visited a few months prior.
As a result of HR’s correspondence, references to Tel Aviv have either been changed to refer to “Israel” or removed altogether.
