Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Jul 9: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel is seeking to strengthen its relationships with countries beyond the United States, highlighting India as a key partner amid reports of strains in ties between Washington and Jerusalem over developments in West Asia.
Speaking to Israeli journalist Sharon Gal, Netanyahu said Israel was working to build new alliances and deepen existing partnerships.
"You have to build new alliances and develop new relationships. That's what I'm doing right now with India," Netanyahu said.
His remarks came after US Vice President JD Vance reportedly advised Israeli officials not to publicly criticise "the only powerful ally" Israel had left following criticism from some Israeli leaders over the US-Iran peace agreement.
Responding to the issue, Netanyahu underscored India's importance to Israel.
"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," he said.
The comments come as hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran have reportedly intensified again after Iran allegedly attacked three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz for not following a route designated by Tehran.
According to reports, the United States subsequently launched strikes on multiple locations across Iran, with the US Central Command stating that it had targeted around 170 military installations.
The renewed hostilities have also raised questions over the durability of the US-Iran peace agreement, which was signed less than a month ago.
Reports said Israel continued military operations in Lebanon following the agreement, prompting Iran to warn that any regional peace excluding Hezbollah would not be sustainable.
In an interview with CNN-News18, Israel's Ambassador to India Reuven Azar said Israel had agreed to a ceasefire arrangement with Lebanon "out of respect" for the United States.
Meanwhile, reports have also pointed to growing differences between US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu over the handling of the conflict in West Asia.
According to the recently published book Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump by journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, Trump expressed frustration with Netanyahu during discussions over a proposed Israel-Hamas peace agreement.
The book claims Trump told the Israeli leader, "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," referring to the proposed peace deal under negotiation.