Netanyahu counters US VP: India among Israel's 'other friends'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed back against a claim by US Vice President JD Vance that Washington is Israel's only powerful ally. In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu listed India as one of Israel's other key partners.
“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 said, referencing the strong public backing Israel receives in India.
The exchange comes amid growing friction between the two allies over Israel's military operations in Lebanon and the US-brokered peace agreement with Iran. Vance had earlier stated that Israel's strongest ally is the United States, reminding Israeli leaders of Washington's military support.
Netanyahu acknowledged his good relationship with Vance despite their differences. “He and I have a very good relationship, but that doesn't mean I agree with everything he says,” he said. He also praised President Donald Trump as “the greatest friend we ever had in the White House,” and dismissed any notion of a rift between them.
The Iran deal remains a major point of contention. Vance defended the agreement, stating it was designed to end months of conflict, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and pave the way for broader regional talks. He noted that two-thirds of Israel's defensive weapons are American-made and US-funded.
Vance also criticised recent Israeli strikes in Lebanon, warning they could undermine delicate negotiations between Washington and Tehran. “Israel has the right to defend itself, but fundamentally the Israelis, just like everybody else, have to respect this peace process that is fundamentally good for them and good for the entire region,” he said.
The Vice President added that President Trump grows frustrated when diplomatic progress is followed by violence. “We seem to be right on the cusp of a major breakthrough in the agreement, and then all of a sudden, there's a major explosion that goes off in a civilian population centre in Beirut, and a lot of people who have nothing to do with Hezbollah lose their lives. That's not acceptable,” Vance said, urging both sides to honour their commitments.
Netanyahu defended Israel's continued military presence in southern Lebanon, saying Christian villages in the area “have actually asked to be annexed to Israel because we protect them against Hezbollah fanatics who want to kill them.” He argued that “if you want to have peace, you better be able to protect yourself against those who want to annihilate you.”
