Vance holds ‘no bulls***’ conversation with Netanyahu

JD Vance and Benjamin Netanyahu cleared the air with what was described as a ‘no bulls***’ conversation during the prime minister’s visit to Washington Tuesday.

Netanyahu launched a charm offensive on Tuesday, working top Trump Cabinet members in a place of worship as anxiety grows that Israel could move to widen the war with Iran. 

His meeting with Vance came after multiple instances of the vice president criticizing Israel during his work trying to hash out a deal with Tehran, including publicly scolding members of Netanyahu’s cabinet who have been critical of peace efforts. 

The pair met after Senator Lindsey Graham’s funeral at Blair House, the President’s guest house, on Tuesday where the talk ‘wasn’t contentious at all,’ The New York Post reported. 

Vance and Netanyahu had a ‘direct, but no bulls***’ conversation, according to an official, that left with them ‘knowing where everybody stands’ and ‘how to move forward.’ 

However, Axios reported that Netanyahu confronted Vance over his treatment of Israel in recent months in ‘a frank and candid conversation,’ as Israeli official claimed. 

Another US official characterized the talks to Axios as ‘cordial and productive conversation.’  

‘They agreed to continue pursuing opportunities for Israel and the United States to cooperate in areas of mutual interest and shared goals,’ the official added. 

JD Vance and Benjamin Netanyahu cleared the air with what was described as a ‘no bulls***’ conversation during the prime minister’s visit to Washington Tuesday

His meeting with Vance came after multiple instances of the vice president criticizing Israel during his work trying to hash out a deal with Tehran, including publicly scolding members of Netanyahu’s cabinet

Last month, after critics in Israel questioned how seriously Iran would approach peace negotiations, Vance  issued an extraordinary rebuke, warning Israeli critics not to alienate their ‘only powerful ally’ left in the world.

Vance told members of Netanyahu’s cabinet to ‘wake up and smell the reality,’ amid growing tensions between Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump.

‘Donald J Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who’s sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time,’ Vance said during a White House press briefing. 

‘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.’ 

He added: ‘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 went further earlier this month in an interview with Joe Rogan, where he claimed he is the target of an Israeli-funded propaganda campaign over his Iran peace push, and that Jeffrey Epstein had ties to the ‘highest levels’ of Mossad.

Vance pointed to a Time magazine report he said proved American influencers were being paid to attack the Iran deal. The report notes that money has flowed through a former Trump campaign operative and is bankrolled by elements of the Israeli government.

‘My response to that is, well, go to hell,’ Vance said of those taking the cash to smear him. The vice president, who complained he has been branded an anti-Semite, declared that Israel is losing the public opinion battle in America. 

In June, Vance slammed Israeli critics of Donald Trump’s deal with Iran, saying they need to ‘wake up and smell the reality’

Vance directly named Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir (pictured) and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich as having attacked the deal

He also said that ‘figures’ inside the Israeli government are manipulating American public opinion to keep the war going ‘indefinitely.’ 

Vance then shifted to the administration’s handling of the Epstein scandal, revealing that the disgraced financier ‘clearly had connections to the highest levels of American intelligence’ and ‘Israeli intelligence.’

When Rogan noted that most people believe Epstein was working for Mossad, the vice president did not dispute it. Vance noted that it was Mossad ‘or CIA or some other deep state, whether in America or Israel or another country or both.’

Vance, who described himself as a ‘conspiracy theorist’ on Epstein, said that anything tying the pedophile to spy agencies was likely destroyed after 2006 – when the financier was first arrested.

Netanyahu appeared to use his appearance in Washington Tuesday for Senator Graham’s funeral into a backdrop for diplomatic networking.

He rubbed shoulders with Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and was also seen speaking closely with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and his wife. 

He was also spotted among senior Trump aides and administration heavyweights including Stephen Miller, Steve Witkoff, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, and Homeland Security chief Markwayne Mullin.

Body language reader Judi James says Netanyahu’s networking approach of ‘mingling in the heart of the cabinet in a very active way’ was in stark contrast to Volodymyr Zelensky’s behavior.

Earlier this month, Vance said he’s the target of an Israeli-funded influence campaign over his Iran peace push, and that Jeffrey Epstein was tied to the ‘highest levels’ of Mossad

‘As Bibi worked the group Zelensky was seen sitting in his pew a few rows back, looking around in silence,’ James explained. ‘[Netanyahu] showed non-verbal signs of affection, friendship and, at times, intensity when it came to the ‘small talk.’

James also added that there was a ‘folded armed’ Hegseth for a ‘deep discussion’ while there was obvious laughing and ‘mutual patting’ showing a very friendly relationship between the pair.

However, despite the public display of unity, private panic is mounting among GOP lawmakers.

Behind the scenes, conservatives are increasingly vocal in their concern that Netanyahu’s uncompromising posture could embroil the US in a prolonged, wider military campaign across the Middle East.

With the US midterm elections in November, Republicans are aware of growing public hesitation over deep involvement in foreign entanglements as well as economic weariness over continual high prices.

As Trump prepared to board Air Force One for a trip to Michigan on Monday, he sought to project confidence while acknowledging the subtle rift over what comes next.

He told reporters that Bibi has been great and was a wartime prime minister, adding that they did very well together.

While admitting the two leaders have ‘a little difference’ over the next phase of the campaign against Iran, Trump stressed that their core positions remain ‘pretty close.’

Netanyahu arrives at the White House in Washington, D.C.

On Thursday, Trump announced a ‘historic deal’ that includes the ‘complete disarmament’ of Hamas in Gaza in an effort to end terror attacks on Israel.

Trump said the agreement made by the Board of Peace was part of his 20-point plan to bring peace to the Middle East. Hamas confirmed to the BBC that they have agreed to the deal.

In a Truth Social post Thursday night, Trump celebrated what he called a ‘monumental step toward lasting PEACE and SECURITY’ in the region. 

‘This agreement is a critical step towards Gaza finally being governed by a new Palestinian government that will work closely with the Board of Peace to help the Palestinian people,’ he said. 

Trump added: ‘At the same time, Israel will have the security it deserves, with Gaza no longer used as a base for terror attacks.’

Israel has yet to publicly comment on the deal. The Daily Mail has reached out to the prime minister’s office for comment.