"One of the smartest people I've met": The Israeli embrace for Vice President Vance

After months in which J.D. Vance became one of the most controversial figures among Israel supporters in the US, two senior Israeli voices close to the administration gave the Vice President an unusually warm public embrace this week. Israel's Ambassador to Washington, Yehiel Leiter, and former minister Ron Dermer, one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's prominent associates, heaped praise on him at the annual Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) conference in Las Vegas.

Leiter recounted that after the 12-day war against Iran, he arrived at the White House together with Dermer. According to him, when he reached out to shake Vance's hand, the Vice President declined the handshake, pulled him into a hug, and said to him, using a blunt expression: "You guys are just fucking amazing." Leiter presented the moment as evidence of Vance's true attitude toward Israel and told the audience that the conference was "blessed by the participation of the Vice President of the USA, J.D. Vance."

At the same time, the Ambassador indirectly responded to one of the central claims raised by Vance in recent months. "Neither Israel nor the Jews of the US run American policy," he said. "We present our position, as other countries do. America thinks — and then decides." He later added: "Israel wants 'America First' — not China first and not Russia first." Toward the end of his remarks, he addressed Vance directly: "As you said in your Quincy speech, Mr. Vice President, we are an exemplary ally — and that is how we intend to remain: the most loyal ally of the USA."

Dermer, who spoke before Leiter, took a similar line. Hours before Vance's closed-door appearance, he asked those present to give him a "warm welcome" and called him "one of the smartest people I've met in the Senate." Dermer recounted that as early as their first meeting, at a lunch that lasted about two hours in Jerusalem, Vance wanted to understand why the alliance with Israel serves American interests. "I had no problem with a person who asks: 'Why is this in our interest?'" Dermer said. "The simple answer is that the interests of the USA are promoted through close work with Israel."

Dermer even revealed that Vance played a "critical role" on the first day of the 12-day war in 2025, when the element of surprise was vital for Israel's success. "I will always be grateful for the role he played at that critical moment," he said. "He kept Israel safe." According to him, throughout all his years of working with American administrations, he had not seen an administration that was stronger in its support for Israel than the Trump administration.

The public alignment marks a change in tone after a series of statements by Vance that were received in Israel and the pro-Israel camp with astonishment. In June, against the backdrop of Israeli criticism of the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, Vance described the reaction in Israel as "strange panic" and "rampage." Referring to the criticism by ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, he asked: "You are a country of nine million people. You can't just kill your way out of every security problem."

That same day, Vance sharpened the tone at a White House briefing. He said that Trump was the only head of state in the world who was showing sympathy for Israel at that time, and warned: "If I were a member of the Israeli cabinet, I wouldn't attack the only strong ally I have left in the world." He also mentioned that a significant portion of the defense means that protected Israel were produced in the USA and funded by the American taxpayer.

About a month later, on the influential American podcast of Joe Rogan, Vance accused elements within the Israeli government of trying to change American public opinion in order to maintain the war in Iran indefinitely. He spoke about Israeli "influence operations" and said that they bother him when they affect the judgment of decision-makers in the USA. In that same interview, Vance raised another claim that sparked sharp criticism: he said, without presenting evidence, that Jeffrey Epstein had ties with the "highest echelons" of Israeli intelligence. However, Vance then exempted Leiter from the criticism and called him "a really good guy."

The embrace — and the remaining skepticism

RJC leadership also stood up to defend Vance. The organization's CEO Matt Brooks said that the Vice President managed to connect with the audience and clarify to those who arrived skeptical "where his heart is." Board member Ari Fleischer defined the evening as "a day of progress" in the relations between Vance and the Jewish community, and Senator Jim Banks said that Vance "hit a home run." The Vice President was received and departed with applause.

But outside the ranks of the leadership, skepticism remained. The senior conservative and pro-Israel media figure Mark Levin sharply criticized Vance's response: "If you really oppose antisemitism, say: 'I reject and condemn antisemitism in all its forms and in every way.' That wasn't too hard," he wrote. "And also: 'I will not tolerate those who make antisemitic statements and promote hatred of Jews, and that includes Tucker Carlson and his ilk.' Very easy. Simple. Clear. Direct. Is that an excessive expectation from any Republican public figure? I don't think so."

Joining the criticism were also independent conservative journalist Laura Loomer and conservative radio host Sid Rosenberg, who are considered close to Trump. Loomer pointed out that Vance did not condemn Carlson, while Rosenberg claimed that the Vice President was not firm enough regarding Israel and preferred to defend Joe Rogan instead of confronting Carlson. Thus, the conference did indeed create a picture of rapprochement and an embrace, but it has not yet erased the question marks surrounding the man considered to be Trump's possible political successor.