Netanyahu counters Vance's 'only ally' claim, credits India's 'tremendous support'
Synopsis
Netanyahu's Fox News interview was a rare public rebuke of his own key ally's framing. By invoking India's 1.4 billion people and his own Facebook flood of support, he signalled that Israel's diplomatic network is wider than Vance's 'only ally' narrative suggests — and that New Delhi's quiet backing carries real weight in Jerusalem.
Key Takeaways
Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back against J.D.
Vance 's claim that the US is Israel's “only powerful ally,” in a Fox News interview on 6 July .
Netanyahu cited India — with its 1.4 billion people — as a nation providing “tremendous” support, referencing an “overwhelming” outpouring on Facebook.
He described Donald Trump as the “greatest friend” Israel has ever had in the White House, while still disagreeing with Vance's framing.
Vance had made his original remarks at a White House briefing on 18 June , warning Netanyahu's cabinet not to criticise Trump.
Netanyahu revealed that leaders from countries with public anti-Israel sentiment privately seek Israeli deals and expertise in AI, cyber, and military technology.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly pushed back against remarks by US Vice President J.D. Vance that America is Israel's “only powerful ally,” pointedly citing India as a nation offering “tremendous” support. The comments were made during a Fox News interview, and come amid growing diplomatic sensitivity over how Israel is perceived globally.
What Netanyahu Said
Responding directly to Vance's characterisation, Netanyahu said he does not agree with everything the Vice President says. He described US President Donald Trump as the “greatest friend” Israel has ever had in the White House, but was equally emphatic about India's backing.
“We have some other friends like the small country called India. It has 1.4 billion people, and boy, do we have a tremendous support there. This Facebook thing, I am just flooded by the overwhelming support there, and we have many others,” Netanyahu told Fox News.
India's Role in Netanyahu's Diplomatic Calculus
Netanyahu's invocation of India is notable. India and Israel have deepened ties across defence, agriculture, and technology over the past decade, and Indian public sentiment — particularly on social media — has been visibly supportive of Israel during the ongoing conflict. Netanyahu's specific reference to being “flooded” with support on Facebook underscores how the Israeli government is tracking grassroots sentiment, not just state-level diplomacy.
The Vance Remarks That Triggered the Response
At a White House press briefing on 18 June, Vance had warned members of Netanyahu's cabinet against criticising Trump's deal to end the Iran conflict. “Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time, and he happens to be the head of the state of the world's super power,” Vance said. He added: “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.”
Netanyahu on Hidden Diplomatic Support
Without naming specific countries, Netanyahu also addressed what he described as a gap between public posturing and private engagement. He said it is “fashionable” in many nations for media and social media to be “inundated with anti-Israel, anti-semitic material,” yet leaders from those same nations contact him privately to sign deals and seek Israeli expertise in military technology, artificial intelligence, and cyber capabilities.
“Many leaders call me up and say, ‘Hey, look, I have got this problem with public opinion, but I want you to know we respect you’ — ‘can we do some deals, and can you teach us some of the things that your military does, can we have some of your AI and cyber expertise?’” he said. Netanyahu described Israel as the “number two country in the world” in technology.
What This Signals
The exchange reflects a rare instance of an Israeli prime minister publicly distinguishing between allies, at a moment when the country is under intense international scrutiny. Netanyahu's framing positions India not merely as a friendly state but as a counterweight to the narrative that Israel is globally isolated. With India-Israel defence and technology cooperation continuing to expand, the remark is likely to resonate in New Delhi as well as in diplomatic circles watching the region.
Point of View
He is doing two things at once — rebutting the isolation narrative and signalling to New Delhi that its support is noticed and valued at the highest level. What mainstream coverage misses is the subtext: Netanyahu's reference to leaders who privately seek Israeli AI and cyber expertise while publicly distancing themselves is a window into how Israel navigates a world where official positions and back-channel relationships diverge sharply. For India, being called out by name as a genuine friend — not a transactional partner — is a diplomatic signal worth watching.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Netanyahu push back against J.D. Vance's remarks?
Netanyahu disagreed with Vance's claim that the US is Israel's only powerful ally, arguing that Israel has other significant friends, most notably India. He made the remarks in a Fox News interview, citing massive social media support from Indians as evidence of that friendship.
What did J.D. Vance originally say about Israel's allies?
At a White House press briefing on 18 June, Vance said Donald Trump is the only head of state in the world currently sympathetic to Israel, and warned Netanyahu's cabinet against criticising their sole powerful ally. The remarks were directed at Israeli officials who had criticised Trump's Iran deal.
How did Netanyahu describe India's support for Israel?
Netanyahu said India, with its 1.4 billion people, provides 'tremendous' support to Israel, and noted he is 'flooded' with overwhelming backing on Facebook from Indian users. He described India as a genuine friend, not merely a diplomatic partner.
What did Netanyahu say about leaders who publicly criticise Israel?
Without naming countries, Netanyahu said it is fashionable in many nations for media to be filled with anti-Israel content, yet those same nations' leaders privately call him to sign deals and seek Israeli expertise in military technology, AI, and cyber capabilities.
What is the current state of India-Israel relations?
India and Israel have steadily deepened ties over the past decade across defence, agriculture, and technology. Netanyahu's public acknowledgement of Indian support reflects that relationship's growing strategic depth, even as India officially maintains a position of supporting a two-state solution to the Palestinian conflict.
