Sara Netanyhu Goes Viral (for All the Wrong Reasons)
A brief social stumble at Ben Gurion airport went viral after the Israeli Prime Minister’s wife attempted a hug while the Indian leader opted for a handshake. Ouch.
As Prime Minister Modi descended from the plane, he was first greeted with a warm embrace by Benjamin Netanyahu. Following the leaders' greeting, Sara Netanyahu approached Modi and reached out with both arms for a hug. However, PM Modi responded by extending a single hand for a handshake instead. The two then completed the greeting with a handshake.
To smooth over the awkward moment, Netanyahu quickly stepped in to point out a fashion coincidence. He noted that the orange color of PM Modi’s pocket square perfectly matched Sara Netanyahu's orange jacket. "Do you see what she wore?" Netanyahu remarked to Modi while gesturing toward his wife’s outfit. "Look at that."
The moment was captured on video by the government press office (GPO) and quickly circulated on social media, highlighting the contrast between the intimate greeting shared by the two heads of state and the formal protocol maintained during the greeting with the prime minister's spouse.