Israel – Congress Questions Modi’s Silence After Netanyahu Cites India
Israel – The Congress on Monday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over what it described as his continued silence on Israel’s military actions in Gaza, the West Bank, Iran and Lebanon. The opposition party said India’s response to the conflict was inconsistent with the country’s long-standing humanitarian values and diplomatic traditions.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh made the remarks after Netanyahu rejected Vance’s assertion that the United States remained Israel’s only significant ally. Netanyahu said Israel continued to receive backing from other countries, specifically mentioning India.
Congress Raises Concerns Over India’s Foreign Policy
In a post on X, Ramesh accused the Modi government of failing to speak out against Israel’s conduct in the region. He said many Indians were deeply concerned about civilian deaths in Gaza, the displacement of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, air strikes in Iran and military operations in southern Lebanon.
Ramesh alleged that the Prime Minister’s silence represented a departure from India’s civilisational principles. He argued that the government should respond more firmly to developments that have drawn international concern over their humanitarian consequences.
The Congress leader also took aim at Netanyahu’s reference to India’s support, saying such recognition should not be viewed as an achievement. He further referred to growing criticism of the Israeli leader from political figures in the United States.
Netanyahu Refers to India as a Supportive Partner
Netanyahu made the comments during an interview on Fox News Sunday Briefing, where he was asked about Israel’s international support. Responding to Vance’s earlier statement, Netanyahu said Israel had friends beyond the United States.
He referred to India as a country with a population of around 1.4 billion and said Israel had received substantial support from people there. Netanyahu also said he had seen strong backing through his Facebook presence.
“We have some other friends, like a small country called India,” Netanyahu said during the interview. He added that Israel had received “tremendous support” from the country.
His comments came amid heightened diplomatic tensions surrounding the conflict in West Asia and ongoing discussions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Vance Had Warned Israel Over US Relations
Last month, Vance had urged Israel to respect efforts by the United States to engage with Iran. During a White House briefing, he was asked about reports suggesting that Israeli leaders were unhappy with a possible US-Iran understanding and had criticised President Donald Trump.
Vance said Israel should be cautious about publicly attacking Washington, describing the United States as its only powerful ally left in the world. His comments were seen as reflecting frustration within parts of the US administration over differences with Israel on regional diplomacy.
Netanyahu’s latest remarks appeared to be a direct response to that assessment. By citing India and referring to public support on social media, he sought to underline that Israel continued to have international goodwill outside its traditional Western alliances.
Political Debate Expected to Continue
The exchange has added a domestic political dimension to India’s approach towards the Israel-Palestine conflict. The Modi government has maintained diplomatic engagement with Israel while also reiterating support for a negotiated two-state solution and humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians.
Congress leaders have repeatedly called for a clearer public response from the government on the worsening humanitarian situation in the region. The issue is likely to remain part of the wider political debate as violence and diplomatic tensions continue across West Asia.