“India is not a small country!” Why did Netanyahu take the name of India while replying to America?

There has been a new turn in the ongoing war of words between Israel and America. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given a befitting reply to America’s Vice President JD Vance. Vance had recently claimed that Israel has no other powerful ally in the world apart from America, which Tel Aviv should not mess with. Countering this, Netanyahu not only rejected Vance’s claim but also made a big statement referring to India.

‘A small country like India’ and tremendous support

In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu said sarcastically, “We also have other friends, like a ‘small’ country called India. It has a population of 140 crores and we have tremendous support there.” Netanyahu made it clear that he respects Donald Trump and considers him Israel’s greatest friend in the White House, but that does not mean that he agrees with everything JD Vance says. Netanyahu clearly said that he did not find Vance’s statement about ‘the only powerful friend’ correct and he had to clarify it.

Difference between social media and reality

Netanyahu further said that today in some countries it has become a ‘fashion’ to post anti-Israel or anti-Jewish content on social media. However, he made a big claim that the same leaders of countries who publicly speak against him, call him privately and offer trade deals. According to Netanyahu, “These relations are not as real as they seem. Many countries also want to learn from us about the work that our military does. We have a lot of friends.”

What did JD Vance say?

JD Vance’s statement was like a warning to Israel. He had said, “If I were in the cabinet of the Israeli government, perhaps I would not be messing with our only powerful ally left in the world (America).” This statement of Vance had indicated sourness in America-Israel relations, which Netanyahu has cleverly tried to balance by adding the name of India. Amidst the ongoing war with Gaza, Iran and Lebanon, this statement of the Israeli PM has become a topic of much discussion in international politics.