J.D. Vance, the U.S. Senator from Ohio known for his bestselling memoir "Hillbilly Elegy," has established himself as a vocal supporter of Israel since his election in 2022. Despite his initial rise to prominence as a critic of Donald Trump (even going so far as to refer to him at 'Hitler'), Vance has since aligned closely with the former President's policies, particularly on Middle East issues.
Trump just announced Vance as his running mate and will make him Vice President in the event that he succeeds in his bid for re-election.
So where does Vance stand on all things Israel?
Vance's pro-Israel stance is evident across multiple policy areas. He has consistently backed U.S. military aid to Israel, including funding for the Iron Dome missile defense system. In the diplomatic arena, Vance supports the Abraham Accords and the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. He has also opposed anti-Israel resolutions in the United Nations.
On Iran, a key regional adversary of Israel, Vance advocates for a hard-line approach. He opposes the Iran Nuclear Deal and calls for increased sanctions on the Iranian regime.
In the wake of the October 7th attacks on Israel, Vance has been particularly outspoken. He delivered a passionate speech on the Senate floor, arguing for increased funding and continued weapons supply to Israel. He has defended Israel's right to self-defense and criticized campus protests against Israel's actions.
Vance's engagement with the Jewish community extends beyond policy statements. He visited Israel for the first time shortly after his election to attend the Conservative Political Action Conference. Ohio Jewish community leaders have described him as a respectful interlocutor who listens to differing viewpoints.
Trump claimed, “What [President Joe] Biden is doing with respect to Israel is disgraceful ... If any Jewish person voted for Joe Biden, they should be ashamed of themselves. He’s totally abandoned Israel.” Vance agreed, writing, “Trump right again. Biden’s policy in Israel is equal parts incoherent and immoral” as reported by Rolling Stone.
According to the Hill, Vance fully supports Trump's belief that Israel should “finish the job” against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
In May, Vance appeared on an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union". In the interview, he said “Our goal in the Middle East should be to allow the Israelis to get to some good place with the Saudi Arabians and other Gulf Arab states. There is no way that we can do that unless the Israelis finish the job with Hamas. ... If they can’t even do that, the attitude in the Middle East will be: ‘You can’t trust these guys, they’re not pursuing their own national security.’ So we’ve got to let them finish this job, and I think hopefully, on the other end of it, get to a new era in the Middle East.”
He also said that Israel is very important to Christians, who are a majority of Americans, adding, "The idea that there is ever going to be an American foreign policy that doesn’t care a lot about that slice of the world is preposterous.”
However, Vance's positions have not been without controversy. He has faced criticism for some statements perceived as antisemitic dog whistles, particularly regarding George Soros. He has also defended controversial comments by Trump about Jewish Democrats.
Despite these controversies, Vance remains one of the most vocal pro-Israel voices in the Senate. His stance on Israel aligns closely with traditional conservative positions, emphasizing strong military and diplomatic support for the Jewish state while maintaining a tough stance against Iran.
* The Hill, Rolling Stone and The Times of Israel contributed to this article.