Vice President JD Vance / Whitehouse.gov
by Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Vice President JD Vance met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday, emphasizing that the United States does not seek to control Israel’s actions amid ongoing coordination over the Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction plan.
“Israel is not an American protectorate,” Netanyahu declared following the meeting, asserting that Israel “will have the final say regarding her security.”
Vance, who arrived in Israel as part of a regional diplomatic tour, said the talks focused on “the challenge of holding the ceasefire and rebuilding Gaza.” He reaffirmed Washington’s commitment under President Donald Trump’s administration to both disarm Hamas and improve life for civilians in the Strip.
“We have a very tough task ahead of us, which is to disarm Hamas but rebuild Gaza — to make life better for the people in Gaza, but also to ensure that Hamas is no longer a threat to our friends in Israel,” Vance said. “It’s not easy, but it’s something that we are committed to in the Trump administration.”
The vice president added that discussions with both Israeli leaders and “Arab world partners” have been constructive, noting, “We’ve had a lot of good conversations with our friends in the Israeli government, as well as with our friends in the Arab world who are stepping up and volunteering to play a very positive role in this.”
NETANYAHU: ISRAEL WILL SET SECURITY TERMS
According to Channel 12 News, American and Israeli officials familiar with the discussions said Vance urged Netanyahu to give Washington time to roll out the next stages of its Gaza ceasefire plan. Netanyahu reportedly showed readiness to cooperate, while also setting out firm red lines — including rejecting any Turkish presence in Gaza and opposing the Palestinian Authority or Hamas taking control “the day after” the conflict.
The prime minister also reportedly made clear that a full Israel Defense Forces (IDF) withdrawal from Gaza could only happen after Hamas is completely disarmed and the territory fully demilitarized.
U.S. officials, meanwhile, view Turkey as playing a potential role in the ceasefire plan’s success and see eventual Palestinian Authority involvement as unavoidable — a stance that could test Netanyahu’s limits as Washington’s diplomatic pressure continues.
VANCE MEETS PRESIDENT HERZOG AND FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN
Vance also met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Yehoshua Shani, father of the late Capt. Ori Shani and chairman of the Gvura Families of the Fallen Forum.
During the meeting, Vance stated that “it is clear to the U.S. that Hamas must be completely removed from Gaza in order to restore security.” Shani urged the U.S. to allow Israel to complete its mission: “The United States must allow Israel to destroy the enemy and return the hostages.”
Vance responded, “We are working on this with the Israeli government. I cannot guarantee that everyone will return, but we are working with all our partners to make it happen as quickly as possible.”
TOWARD “A BETTER MIDDLE EAST”
In his meeting with Herzog, Vance said the Trump administration remains “committed to ensuring that the peace agreement that started about a week ago sticks.”
“As the President said, there will be torments along the way. It will be difficult, but I feel optimistic,” Vance remarked. “It’s possible we can make peace stick and create the kind of environment where our Gulf Arab friends and our Israeli friends can build a better Middle East for everybody.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, departed Israel for Riyadh late Tuesday to rally Saudi and Emirati backing for the ceasefire and reconstruction plan.
A source close to the president told Channel 12 that Trump is “pleased that the United States has so far managed to keep both sides in line,” referring to Israel and Hamas.
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