Prime Minister Netanyahu said in response to U.S. Vice President Vance's claim that America is Israel's only friend that the Jewish state has 'several more friends,' notably India — a country of 1.4 billion people with 'tremendous support' for Israel, according to the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Netanyahu responded Sunday evening to U.S. Vice President Vance's assertion that the United States is Israel's only remaining ally, in remarks published by Abu Ali Express. Netanyahu listed India as a key friend, noting the country's 1.4 billion population and describing 'tremendous support' from its leadership. The Prime Minister added that many leaders call him to express personal respect despite facing domestic public opinion challenges.
The comment continues a public exchange that began Thursday, when Vance said at an event that if he were in the Israeli government, he 'wouldn't attack your last remaining strong ally.' Netanyahu first countered in a Fox News interview earlier Sunday, saying Israel has 'many, many friends.' The Indian reference represents a specific example from that broader argument.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Sunday, Netanyahu's Fox News interview struck back at Vance directly but did not name specific countries. These latest remarks, attributed to the Prime Minister and not on the record via an official transcript, name India explicitly for the first time in the exchange. No official White House or Vance response has been reported.
5 developments
- StrongVance escalates: 'Only world leader sympathetic to Israel now is Trump'
- DevelopingVance pushes back on Netanyahu frustrations over US-Iran deal
- StrongUS VP Vance: 'I wouldn't attack your last remaining strong ally' — Israeli pundit replies
- StrongUS VP Vance says Netanyahu 'got something wrong,' signals daylight in Washington
Source and signal
- Internal intake