Netanyahu Highlights India's Support Amid US Vice President's Remarks

Netanyahu's Defense of India's Role

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized India's significance as a key ally for Israel, countering recent statements made by US Vice-President JD Vance, who implied that Israel lacks strong allies aside from the United States. In a Fox News interview aired on Sunday, Netanyahu expressed that Israel receives substantial backing from India, stating, "We have some other friends, like a small country called India. It has 1.4 billion people, and boy, do we have tremendous support there."

Netanyahu also lauded former US President Donald Trump, referring to him as "the greatest friend" Israel has had in the White House, while clarifying that he does not fully endorse Vance's comments. "I respect JD Vance. But it doesn't mean that I agree with everything that he says and I have to point out this," he remarked.

These statements followed Vance's warning during a White House press briefing, where he cautioned Israel against alienating its only powerful ally. Vance stated, "If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world," while defending a US memorandum with Iran aimed at resolving conflicts.

During the interview, Netanyahu highlighted the considerable support he receives from India on social media platforms, asserting that Israel has numerous international allies despite facing criticism regarding its military actions in Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon. "I am flooded by the overwhelming support" from India on Facebook, he noted.

He pointed out that while some social media platforms may be filled with "anti-Israeli, anti-Semitic material," many global leaders still engage with Israel privately. "So the relations are not quite as they appear, and we have many, many friends," he added, mentioning that some leaders reach out to him for agreements or advice on military capabilities.

Netanyahu also discussed Israel's stance on Lebanon, where Israeli troops remain stationed despite multiple ceasefire declarations. He claimed that certain Christian villages in southern Lebanon have requested to be annexed by Israel for protection against Hezbollah. "Christian villages in Lebanon, some of them have actually asked to be annexed to Israel, because we protect them against the Hezbollah, Hezbollah fanatics who want to kill them, and we do the same things with Christians everywhere," he stated during the Fox News interview. However, Israel has not publicly substantiated these claims regarding annexation requests, and Lebanese officials have not responded to his comments.