Daijiworld Media Network – Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, Oct 23: U.S. Vice President JD Vance sought to ease concerns in Israel on Wednesday that the Trump administration was imposing terms on the country, as he and other senior U.S. officials visit Israel to support the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Speaking alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Vance emphasized that the U.S. seeks a partnership with Israel, not a controlling relationship.

“We don’t want in Israel a vassal state, and that’s not what Israel is. We want a partnership, we want an ally,” he said in response to a reporter’s question about whether Israel was becoming a “protectorate” of the U.S.

Netanyahu echoed the sentiment while acknowledging differing viewpoints as discussions on the U.S.-proposed ceasefire continue.

“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,” he stated.

One key concern in Israel remains the international security force envisioned in the ceasefire’s second phase. Officials worry it could limit the Israeli military’s operational freedom in Gaza if perceived threats to Israel’s security arise.

Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday to further discuss the implementation and oversight of the ceasefire arrangements.