Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem
Jerusalem, May 29: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has once again highlighted India’s strong support for Israel, claiming that the country enjoys “absolutely crazy support” among Indians despite growing criticism in several parts of the world.
Speaking at a conference in the West Bank on Thursday, Netanyahu referred to India as a “huge power” with which Israel shares a “unique relationship”.
“We have problems with delegitimisation in much of the world, but not in India,” Netanyahu said during his address. “In India, there is an absolutely crazy support for Israel, truly crazy.”
The Israeli leader further remarked that he believes Israel has more followers from India than from any other country.
This is not the first time Netanyahu has spoken about his popularity in India. Recalling his 2018 visit to New Delhi along with his wife Sara Netanyahu, he had earlier described the trip as a “love fest” and stated that Indians hold “enormous respect” for Israel.
“There are places where Israel is still respected. India has 1.4 billion people, and Israel is very popular there,” Netanyahu had said during an interview on CBS News’ ‘60 Minutes’.
The latest remarks come at a time when Netanyahu is reportedly facing declining popularity internationally, particularly in the United States.
According to a recent Pew Research Center survey released in April, nearly 60 per cent of American adults now hold an unfavourable view of Israel, compared to 53 per cent last year.
The survey also found that 59 per cent of US adults have little or no confidence in Netanyahu’s handling of global affairs, marking an increase from the previous year.
During the same interview, Netanyahu also blamed Pakistan for allegedly fuelling anti-Israel sentiment online through social media campaigns.
He claimed that countries seeking to weaken US-Israel ties were using “bot farms” to manipulate public opinion on social media platforms.
“They post like, ‘I’m a red-blooded Texan who supported Israel, but now I can’t stand them.’ Then you check, and it’s a guy sitting in a basement in Pakistan,” Netanyahu alleged.