Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed back at JD Vance’s claim that the United States is Israel’s “only” powerful ally, saying Israel still gets “tremendous” support from India. He singled out India as a major friend, noting its 1.4 billion people and the strong backing Israel receives there.

The exchange began after Vance suggested that Israel should not criticize Washington when the U.S. is its most important ally, saying the Trump administration was effectively Israel’s only reliable supporter. Netanyahu responded in a Fox News interview that he respected Vance but disagreed with his assessment, arguing that Israel has several friends, not just one. He then pointed to India, saying the country gives Israel strong public support and that Israeli leaders are hearing from many international partners even when those ties are not always visible in public .

Netanyahu’s remarks also reflect the broader effort by Israel to underscore support beyond the U.S. as tensions rise over the Gaza war and regional diplomacy. By invoking India, he highlighted a relationship that has grown steadily through defence, technology and political cooperation. The comment was also a direct rebuttal to the idea that Israel is diplomatically isolated, with Netanyahu insisting that many governments continue to back Israel privately even if domestic politics make them cautious in public.

The spat shows how a single remark from Washington can ripple into a wider diplomatic exchange. Netanyahu’s India reference was both a defence of Israel’s international standing and a reminder that New Delhi remains one of its most significant global supporters.