U.S. Vice President JD Vance, in a New York Times interview published Thursday, directly questioned Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich over their opposition to the emerging U.S.-Iran agreement. 'What exactly is your proposal?' Vance asked, adding that the ministers 'can't just kill your way out of every national security problem.' He also noted that he believes Prime Minister Netanyahu did not personally attack the deal, suggesting Netanyahu is more familiar with its details.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance directly challenged Israeli Ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich in an interview with The New York Times published Thursday, telling them they "cannot simply kill [their] way out of every national security problem." The comments, which first appeared in the Times's podcast and expanded into a published transcript, mark the sharpest public rebuke yet from the Trump administration toward the Israeli far-right ministers who have opposed the emerging U.S.-Iran nuclear deal.
The thread published by The Zioneer from 17:14 Jerusalem on Thursday shows the story evolving rapidly across five versions. The initial report (v1) summarized Vance's podcast remarks as criticizing the ministers' approach; by v2 the full quote was attributed, and v3 added Vance's assertion that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not personally criticized the deal, suggesting Netanyahu is more familiar with its details. The central exchange — Vance asking "What exactly is your proposal?" and telling a country of 9 million it cannot "kill your way out" — has remained consistent across all versions.
As The Zioneer reported on Tuesday (June 16, 05:53 Jerusalem), Vance previously promoted the agreement on Fox News, calling it beneficial for Israel. That same report noted that the full text of the agreement remains classified, drawing demands for transparency from both American commentators and Israeli officials. The administration has framed the deal as a "win-win," a characterization that Vance reiterated in the Times interview.
The ministers have not yet publicly responded to Vance's direct challenge. The full, classified text of the agreement has not been released, and it remains unclear whether Ben Gvir or Smotrich will offer a detailed alternative proposal as Vance demanded.
5 developments
- StrongVance tells NYT Israel gripped by 'strange panic' over US-Iran deal, questions critics
- DevelopingVP Vance says Netanyahu does not criticize US-Iran deal because he knows its details
- StrongVance: 'Our money protected you. Trump? He's not your problem — wake up'
- StrongVP Vance promotes US-Iran agreement on Fox News, says deal benefits Israel
Source and signal
- Internal intake