Can't kill your way out of every problem: JD Vance's 'wake up' call for Israel
As Israeli leaders intensified their attacks on US President Donald Trump's Iran deal, Vice President JD Vance pushed back by questioning Israel's approach to regional
As Israeli leaders intensified their attacks on US President Donald Trump's Iran deal, Vice President JD Vance pushed back by questioning Israel's approach to regional security, saying military force alone could not solve the country's long-term challenges. In an interview with The New York Times, Vance said Israel could not "kill your way out of solving every single national security problem," urging its leaders to support Washington's diplomatic efforts rather than attack its "only powerful ally." Read Full Story "What is your exact proposal? You're a country of 9 million people. You can't just kill your way out of solving every single national security problem that you have," Vance said. Vance's unusually sharp remarks landed as Israeli officials, including some of Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet ministers, continued to attack the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, arguing that it fails to address Tehran's nuclear programme and curb its ballistic missile capabilities while limiting Israel's freedom of action against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Speaking at a White House press conference, Vance defended the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed this week between the US and Iran to end months of conflict, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin negotiations toward a broader settlement. "My message to them would be twofold. No. 1: Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time," Vance told reporters. "If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world." JD Vance fires back at Israeli cabinet members for criticizing Trump’s Iran deal “If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have left The problem for Israel is not Donald J.
Trump, and anybody in Israel who pic.twitter.com/m0KSF7tOeP— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) June 18, 2026 The US-Iran deal has sparked fierce debate among the pro-Israel lobby in Washington and within Israel's political establishment in Jerusalem. VANCE DEFENDS TRUMP'S GAMBLE But Vance dismissed the criticism and pointed to America's longstanding military support for Israel. He said Israeli leaders should remember that two-thirds of the defensive weapons protecting the country had been "built by American hands and paid for by American tax dollars." The US currently provides Israel with roughly $4 billion in military assistance annually, and the two allies are negotiating a new defence aid package. "The problem for Israel is not Donald J Trump and anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the president of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in," Vance said. His comments landed amid reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was frustrated with the agreement, though Vance said he had not personally heard such complaints from Netanyahu himself. 'FREAKOUT' OVER IRAN DEAL DRAWS SHARP REBUKE Vance reserved some of his strongest criticism for members of Israel's governing coalition who have attacked the agreement. In an interview with The New York Times on Thursday, he poked holes in Israel's approach to regional security and questioned whether military force alone could solve its long-term challenges. He also dismissed the backlash against the agreement. "I find this whole freakout in Israel a little bit odd because I think that it comes from a place of mistrust, and I think that America has earned the trust of that region of the world," he said.
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