‘Not getting involved in Israeli elections’: JD Vance on Netanyahu re-election

Vance draws line at Israeli polls US Vice President JD Vance on Monday declined to endorse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for re-election, a day after President Donald Trump backed the embattled Israeli leader.“The president has the most influential endorsement in American or international political history,” Vance said during an interview with journalist Mark Halperin.Asked about his position, Vance said he would focus on US elections rather than get involved in Israeli politics.“I endorse American candidates, and that’s where I’m focused on the midterms,” Vance said while travelling to campaign for Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley of North Carolina. “So, I’m not getting involved in Israeli elections.”Vance has previously campaigned for a foreign leader, travelling to Hungary last spring to support then-prime minister Viktor Orban before his party lost the parliamentary election.His refusal to follow Trump’s lead on Netanyahu comes at a sensitive time for Jewish Americans and US-Israel relations, with concerns over antisemitism rising ahead of the US midterm elections.Republicans have sought to portray Democrats, including Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed...