Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled a strategic pivot towards India as a key ally, amid deepening tensions with the United States over Israel's military actions in Lebanon and the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The remarks, made to right-wing journalist Sharon Gal, underscore a growing divide between Tel Aviv and Washington. Netanyahu stated, "You have to build new alliances and develop new relationships. That's what I'm doing right now with India." He added, "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."
US-Israel Rift Widens Over Iran Peace Deal
Last month, Israeli officials condemned the fragile peace agreement brokered between the US and Iran. Vice President JD Vance reportedly rebuked them, telling them not to criticize "the only powerful ally" the Jewish state was "left" with "anywhere in the world."
Tensions reached a breaking point in late June when Iran attacked three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The US retaliated with airstrikes on 170 military targets housing Iranian munitions, according to US Central Command.
Netanyahu's Refusal to Halt Operations Strains Relations
President Donald Trump declared the peace agreement concluded this week, less than a month after its signing. Israel was deemed partially responsible as it continued strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon despite Tehran's warnings. The Lebanese government reports over 4,000 civilian deaths since the start of the Iran war.
According to the book Regime Change by journalists Maggie Haberman and Johnathan Swan, Trump used expletives during a phone call with Netanyahu, saying, "I've done everything to protect you. You better go along with this. It's been going on for too long. Everybody's sick of you, Bibi."
