In normal circumstances, 'jai-rahim eco system' in Congress think-tank (often unthinking brilliant Rajya Sabha coterie) would have understood the slap on face. But Indian opposition parties and especially the Congress is not undergoing normal times !!
Netanyahu's India rejoinder to JD Vance's 'US Israel's only ally' remark
Benjamin Netanyahu responded with a touch of sarcasm, saying Israel had "some other friends" besides the White House. "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," he said.
Beach stroll by Benjamin Netanyahu, Narendra Modi caused internet waves in 2017 (July 7)
The India-Israel friendship is at display. At the same time, the US-Israel ties have come under scanner.
Israel's closest and powerful ally may be the United States, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it is not the only one.
In a pointed response to US Vice President J D Vance, Netanyahu cited India as one of Israel's strongest international partners.
He commented during an interview with Fox News Sunday Briefing, days after Vance directed Israeli leaders to back President Donald Trump's peace deal with Iran instead of criticising it.
Netanyahu responded with a touch of sarcasm, saying Israel has "some other friends" besides the White House.
"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," he said.
However, he admitted that he shares a good working relationship with the Vice President, but that did not mean the two leaders agreed on every issue.
"He and I have a very good relationship, but that doesn't mean I agree with everything he says," Netanyahu said.
He also dismissed claims of any divide with President Trump.
Calling Trump "the greatest friend we ever had in the White House," Netanyahu added, "I don't think there's a rift between us."
Responding directly to Vance's remarks, the Israeli leader pointed out that Israel continues to enjoy broad international backing.
"This Facebook thing, and I'm just flooded by these, by the overwhelming support there, and we have many others. Many leaders call me up and say, hey, look, I've got this problem with public opinion, but I want you to know we respect you," he said.
"And can we make some deals, and can you teach us some of the things that your military does? And can we have some of your AI and cyber expertise? You know Israel is the number two country in cyber in the world, and our technology is so good. So the relations are not quite as they appear," he added.
WHAT JD VANCE SAID
The exchange follows unusually blunt remarks from Vice President JD Vance, who questioned Israel's reliance on military force while defending the Trump administration's diplomatic outreach to Iran.
Speaking at a White House press briefing and later in an interview with The New York Times, Vance had asked Israeli leaders to support Washington's peace efforts rather than publicly attack the US-Iran memorandum of understanding.
ends
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