Vance warns Israel about Iran deal: Trump is its "only ally"

United States Vice President JD Vance harshly criticized Israelis who oppose the Iran deal on Thursday (18), saying that American President Donald Trump is Israel's only ally, in a strong rebuke regarding the billions in military aid the country receives from the US.

Vance defended this week's deal to end the war with Iran, criticized in the US and Israel for failing to contain Iran's missile program and offering a clear path to dismantling its nuclear facilities, while constraining Israel in its war against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

Trump has repeatedly criticized Israel, his longtime ally, adding more tension nearly four months after the two countries joined together to attack Iran.

When asked at a White House press conference about a report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was furious about the deal, Vance said he had not heard such comments from the prime minister, but criticized members of the Israeli cabinet, who, he said, criticized the deal and attacked Trump personally.

"My message to them would be twofold. First: Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is showing sympathy for the nation of Israel right now," Vance told White House reporters.

"If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, perhaps I wouldn't have attacked the only powerful ally I have left in the entire world."

He said he would also remind these cabinet members that two-thirds of the defensive weapons that protected Israel "were manufactured by American hands and paid for with American taxpayer money."

The United States provides Israel with about $4 billion in military assistance per year. The two countries are negotiating a new aid agreement.

"The problem for Israel is not Donald J. Trump, and anyone in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the president of the United States needs to wake up and see the reality of the situation the country finds itself in," Vance said.

Netanyahu's office and the Israeli Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tensions between the US and Israel
Senior Israeli officials said anonymously that the terms of the deal were ruins for Israel because they did not address concerns about Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, a view they said was shared by the entire Israeli leadership.

Trump tried to downplay Israel's concerns during his closing remarks on Wednesday at the G7 summit in France. Netanyahu could take a "softer approach" to fighting Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, Trump said.

In his first comments since the deal, Netanyahu said at a public event that Israel values its relationship with the US but will continue to occupy southern Lebanon to ensure the safety of citizens living near Israel's northern border.

"This requires maintaining the security strip in southern Lebanon; it requires that we not leave there as long as Israel's security needs require it," Netanyahu said.

Israel on Thursday published a map showing an expanded military control zone in southern Lebanon and said it would not rule out the possibility of attacks beyond it, defying the terms of the pact between the US and Iran.

Vance and Ben Gvir
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a key far-right figure in Netanyahu's coalition government, sharply criticized the U.S.-Iran deal and insisted that Israeli troops should remain in Lebanon.

Vance criticized Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in an interview with the New York Times released on Thursday.

"What exactly is your proposal? You are a country of 9 million people. You can't just kill to solve every national security problem you have," Vance said.

"I think all this fuss in Israel is a little strange, because I think it comes from a lack of trust, and I think the United States has gained trust in that part of the world," Vance said.

Ben-Gvir responded to Vance's statements in a post on the social network X, saying: "This is the proposal... Deal with the Nazis of the 21st century, just as the United States dealt with the Nazis of the 20th century."

In a social media post following Vance's remarks on Thursday, Trump said he encouraged everyone in the Middle East to uphold their commitment to allowing negotiations to take place.

"We expect a complete ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, Hezbollah and Israel," he wrote.

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Source: CNN