Israel's UN ambassador rejects Vance's claim that Iran war was behind midterm losses

'It’s very easy to always blame Israel for everything, but that is not the case,' says Danny Danon Danny Danon at the UN on 20 June 2025 (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images via AFP) Published date: 5 November 2026 15:57 GMT | Last update: 8 sec ago Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations has rejected US Vice President JD Vance’s analysis that the war on Iran was the “real reason” the Republicans suffered sweeping losses in the midterm elections, and that the party should “change our relationship to Israel”. “It’s very easy to always blame Israel for everything, but that is not the case,” Danny Danon told Israeli outlet i24 News. “I think it’s unfortunate that many made the link between rising prices, mainly oil prices, and the situation here in Israel,” the Israeli ambassador said. “The decision to attack Iran was the decision of the United States. It wasn’t our decision. We supported the US effort, and we think it was the right decision.” The US and Israel attacked Iran at the end of February. The New York Times reported that in the weeks before the war began, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared intelligence with US President Donald Trump suggesting that the Iranian people would rise and topple their government in the event of an attack. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters No such regime change has occurred, and Iran has taken control of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, sending energy prices soaring. The attendant rise in the cost of living in the US has been a key issue for American voters and one that Democrats have sought to exploit. Vance takes to X On Wednesday, after elections saw the Republicans lose both the Senate and the House of Representatives, Vance wrote in a lengthy post on X: “But the real reason we lost is obvious to almost everyone… The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night.” “I think a part of it was Iran,” Trump has said in an interview, despite also saying that he “would have done it again”. Vance also said in his post that polling had shown him that Trump voters wanted the US to “change our relationship to Israel”, as well as end the war on Iran, focus on the cost of living and “put America first”. 'I think a part of it was Iran': Trump acknowledges war's impact on midterm election losses Read More » “If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next six years was worth it, then do so,” the vice president said, stating that “everyone knows why we lost”. Danon said in his interview that Israel would “have to pay attention” to voices in both the Democratic and Republican parties that are critical of his country. “It will be harder for us,” the Israeli ambassador said, in relation to the increasing prominence of anti-Israel politicians in the US. “We will always do whatever is necessary to protect ourselves,” said Danon, when questioned on a possible deal between the US and Iran following the election results. In Israel, the losses have resulted in a wave of criticism of Netanyahu from politicians and commentators who believe the prime minister has become “toxic” for both Republicans and Democrats. Critics said that following the sweeping victory of the Democrats, Netanyahu can no longer lead Israel due to his unpopularity in the US. One Israeli former diplomat maintained that the results in the US were the end of “an era of half a century in US-Israel relations”, adding that “what lies ahead is clouded in uncertainty”. Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.