Table No 8 and a 'first date': Israel PM Netanyahu recalls India link behind love story with wife Sara

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday recalled a personal connection with India revealing that an Indian restaurant in Tel Aviv played a memorable role in the early days of his relationship with his wife Sara.

While speaking alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Netanyahu said he owed India a “great personal debt”, recounting that one of his first dates with Sara had taken place at an Indian restaurant, where she was introduced to Indian cuisine for the first time.




“First of all, the food was unbelievable. Sara was introduced to it for the first time, it made for a great first date, not only was the food excellent, the date was excellent too. Obviously, I am indebted to you, as are my children,” Netanyahu said.

A smiling Netanyahu said it was Sara who chose the Indian restaurant for their date, a meeting that would eventually lead to their marriage. The couple married in 1991 and have two sons, Yair and Avner.

Speaking during the India–Israel exchange of MoUs and press statements, Netanyahu identified the restaurant as one run by Indian restaurateur Reena Pushkarna in Tel Aviv.

“I owe India a great personal debt. When I met Sara (his wife) for the first time, I think our first or second date was in an Indian restaurant in Tel Aviv. It was Reena Pushkarna,” he said.

Pushkarna, the owner of the restaurant popularly known as Tandoori Tel Aviv, has previously recalled the couple’s early visits. In a 2022 interview with ANI, she said Netanyahu and Sara had their first date at the establishment.

“The first date of PM Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu was on this, Table No 8,” Reena Pushkarna said.

She also noted that Netanyahu is a regular patron of Indian cuisine.

According to Pushkarna, Netanyahu orders Indian food at least twice a week and is particularly fond of butter chicken and karahi chicken.

According to Pushkarna, Netanyahu orders Indian food at least twice a week and is particularly fond of butter chicken and karahi chicken.

Earlier in an interview with ANI, Pushkarna had said, "We could not prepare much Gujarati food items while he came here last time. His visit heralds a new beginning and we are hopeful about the visit. Both sides- Israel and Palestine are PM's friends, so he will help in long-term peace efforts."

Netanyahu’s remarks came during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Israel, which included meetings with Israeli leaders and events highlighting bilateral cooperation.