Vance Trip Underscores New Phase In US-Israel Relations After Gaza Ceasefire
TEL AVIV, Israel — J.D. Vance’s two-day visit to Israel, his first as U.S. vice president, was intended as a show of unity between the U.S. and one of its closest allies. But the optics and messaging surrounding his trip revealed a more complex — and at times uneasy — dynamic that has emerged between the U.S. and its longtime ally.
While Vance emphasized “partnership” with Israel and pushed back on the notion that the Jewish state had become a “protectorate” of the United States, the underlying tensions in this evolving post-Gaza war framework reveals that the alliance has entered a new phase.
At the center of Vance’s visit was the recently-brokered ceasefire agreement spearheaded by President Donald Trump. Vance and the U.S. delegation, which included U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, sought to bolster support for the truce and chart a path forward for Gaza’s post-war governance.
READ: Trump Heralds ‘Historic Dawn Of A New Middle East’ After Hostages Returned
That path remains deeply contested, particularly over issues of military autonomy, international oversight and the role of outside powers like Turkey in Gaza’s future.
Vance’s comments rejecting the idea of Israel as a “vassal state” came in direct response to growing concern within Israel’s political establishment — and among many everyday Israelis — that the ceasefire’s implementation is being driven more by U.S. strategic priorities than their nation’s consensus.
Vance aimed to downplay perceptions of American overreach.
“We have a very, 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. That’s not easy,” he said on Wednesday. “There’s a lot of work to do, but I feel very optimistic about where we are.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu echoed this balancing act. While affirming shared values and mutual interests, he also tried to dispel the dual narratives — frequently echoed in both American and Middle Eastern discourse — that either Israel dictates U.S. foreign policy or is beholden to it.
“One week they say that Israel controls the United States. A week later they say the United States controls Israel. This is hogwash. We have a partnership, an alliance of partners who share common values, common goals,” Netanyahu said, as Vance stood by his side.
Let’s talk Turkey
These optics matter because they reveal an Israel wary of ceding control, especially over military operations in Gaza. The ceasefire’s second phase includes the deployment of an international security force in Gaza, which could restrict Israeli Defense Forces action in the name of stability. That idea has raised alarms among Israeli military and political leaders.
Vance acknowledged these concerns in his public comments and mentioned countries such as Turkey, Indonesia, Germany and Denmark among the potential contributors to the international force that would help Gaza rebuilt and maintain order. However, Turkish participation continues to be a major sticking point.
Netanyahu, for example, directly opposed the presence of Turkish troops in Gaza during his meeting with Vance. That opposition is grounded in a broader history of strained ties between Israel and Turkey, a majority Muslim nation, now under the rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. His government has been vocal over the past two years in its criticism of Israeli military actions and has maintained ties with Hamas.
The security force debate reflects the broader dilemma at the heart of the ceasefire: How to ensure both Israeli security and Palestinian stability without either side feeling undermined. For Israel, it’s about maintaining deterrence and operational freedom. For the U.S., it’s about preventing the resumption of the war, while also creating viable political order in the Middle East.
As if to underscore these tensions, members of Israel’s far-right used Vance’s visit to push through preliminary approval of a bill to annex the occupied West Bank, a move opposed by the U.S. Although it passed by a single vote and may not survive further legislative hurdles, the symbolism was potent.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also slated to make a trip to the region, said Trump “has made clear that’s not something we’d be supportive of right now, and we think it’s potentially threatening to the peace deal.”
Holy visit and a court fight
On Thursday, Vance visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the 12th century basilica where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, died and rose again, in Jerusalem’s Old City. Vance, who is Catholic, visited the site with his wife Usha.
Vance’s trip to Jerusalem and return to Tel Aviv, where he met with IDF officials, before flying back to Washington, D.C. caused road closures and major traffic jams near Ben Gurion Airport.
Separately, Israel’s Supreme Court held a hearing into whether to open the Gaza Strip to international journalists and gave the government 30 days to present a new position in light of the ceasefire.
Gaza has been closed to reporters since the war began following the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. Palestinian journalists have covered the two-year war, but they were subject to tough restrictions regarding movement, while working under great danger. Nearly 200 Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli fire, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
The Foreign Press Association, which represents dozens of international news organizations, had asked the court to order the Israeli government to open the border.
In a statement following Thursday’s decision, the FPA expressed its “disappointment” and called the government’s position to deny journalists access “unacceptable.”
Clemente Lisi is executive editor at Religion Unplugged.