Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday praised India’s growing ties with Israel, calling the country a “huge power” that has “absolutely crazy love for Israel” despite what he described as global attempts to delegitimise the Jewish state.
Speaking at a leadership programme in the Jordan Valley, Netanyahu highlighted India as one of Israel’s strongest international partners while discussing efforts to expand diplomatic alliances worldwide. A video of his remarks was released by Israel’s Government Press Office.
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“We are expanding our alliances and what you are talking about is expanding these alliances to a large space. And the larger space is really our unique relationship with a huge power called India,” Netanyahu said.
The Israeli Prime Minister further claimed that while Israel faces criticism in many parts of the world, India has remained supportive. “We face delegitimisation in much of the world — but not in India. In India, there is an absolutely crazy love for Israel, truly crazy. I think I have more followers from India than from anywhere else,” he remarked.
India and Israel have significantly strengthened bilateral relations over the years across sectors such as defence, agriculture, water management, cybersecurity, healthcare, entrepreneurship and emerging technologies. The two nations also share close cooperation in security and innovation-driven industries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel earlier this year at Netanyahu’s invitation, continuing a diplomatic relationship that has grown stronger since Modi’s historic 2017 visit — the first-ever trip to Israel by an Indian Prime Minister.
During their February meeting, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the India-Israel strategic partnership with a focus on peace, security, technological innovation and economic cooperation. A joint statement issued after the meeting noted that Israeli expertise in technology and innovation complements India’s strengths in talent, manufacturing and entrepreneurship.
Netanyahu has repeatedly spoken about his close personal rapport with PM Modi and often describes India as an increasingly influential global power. Their diplomatic engagements have reflected growing cooperation in several critical sectors.
India, meanwhile, has maintained a balanced stand regarding the ongoing conflicts involving Israel, including the war in Gaza and tensions with Iran. New Delhi has consistently condemned terrorism while also calling for dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes in the region.
The latest remarks by Netanyahu come at a time when Israel continues to face international scrutiny over its military actions in Gaza, even as it works to strengthen ties with key allies across the world.
