'We have many friends, including India, with 1.4 billion people,' says Netanyahu; Denies US is Israel's only ally, counters JD Vance

PM Modi paid a state visit to Israel in February and had said that India stood with Israel "firmly with full conviction". This was two days before Israel and the US launched a surprise attack on Iran, which later snowballed into a full-fledged war.

Modi Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) welcomes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an official welcoming ceremony upon his arrival in Israel at Ben Gurion Airport, near Tel Aviv, Israel July 4, 2017.Reuters

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed back against US Vice President JD Vance's claim that the United States is Israel's "only powerful ally", saying India is among the countries that strongly support Israel.

In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu said Israel enjoys "tremendous support" from India, describing the country as a key friend with a population of over 1.4 billion people. ""We have other friends, like India, a country of 1.4 billion people. We receive tremendous support there," he said.

The Israeli Prime Minister also highlighted the backing he receives from Indian users on social media, saying his Facebook page has seen overwhelming support from India. He added that Israel has several international partners beyond the US and rejected the suggestion that Washington is its only major ally.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "We have other friends, like India, a country of 1.4 billion people. We receive tremendous support there."
He added that many world leaders are approaching Israel to deepen cooperation, learn from the IDF's experience, and expand… pic.twitter.com/3ULcGUi0Lh
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Netanyahu's remarks came in response to comments made by JD Vance, who recently said the US was Israel's only powerful ally while urging Israeli leaders not to undermine Washington's efforts following the Iran conflict. Vance had also noted that much of Israel's military support and defensive capabilities over recent months had come from the United States.

While disagreeing with Vance's assessment, Netanyahu praised US President Donald Trump as one of Israel's strongest supporters and said he respected the US Vice President despite their differences. He also claimed several world leaders have approached Israel seeking cooperation in defence, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, reflecting the country's growing strategic influence.

India and Israel have steadily strengthened bilateral ties in recent years, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Netanyahu maintaining close diplomatic engagement. Earlier this year, Netanyahu referred to Modi as a "personal friend" and described India as a "global power", underscoring the strategic partnership between the two nations.