Reconciliation with Netanyahu will not turn Vance into a Zionist, former consul warns

Jerusalem Post/Israel NewsYaki Dayan, the former Israeli consul in Los Angeles, discussed the smoothing over of tensions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Vice President JD Vance in an interview with 103F.Follow us on GooglePrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets US President Donald Trump and US Vice President JD Vance in the White House, July 28, 2026.(photo credit: MAAYAN TOAF/GPO)By103FMAUGUST 1, 2026 04:46Yaki Dayan, the former Israeli consul in Los Angeles, discussed the smoothing over of tensions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Vice President JD Vance in a Friday interview with 103FM’s Ron Kofman and Prof. Aryeh Eldad."It won't make Vance a Zionist, I suppose. There are different degrees of reconciliation," Dayan said. He assumed that the reduction in hostility may make Vance more cautious about his future statements against Israel.“To be interviewed on every podcast and saying that we are feeding the Epstein theory, he was a Mossad operative, and so on? 'To smooth over differences' means: ‘we won't get involved with you - and you won't involve us in conspiracy theories.’ I suppose that's there, but you won't turn Vance into someone who thinks that Israel is the most important and best country in the world," Dayan continued.Beyond the personal aspects of the dispute, Dayan believes that this reflects a broader sentiment on the right wing of the Republican Party today. "It is mainly characterized by people like Tucker Carlson or Steve Bannon - we have completely lost them there," he said. "You still have two other currents in the Republican Party: one represented by Marco Rubio, and the other is the evangelicals, who are big supporters of Israel. Each for their own reasons.""The evangelicals have their reasons for supporting Israel and are very strong supporters, but it is not a uniform group. There are supporters among conservatives as well, such as Rubio, and you could also include Lindsey Graham, who understood Israel's strength, its importance, and our shared values."US Vice President JD Vance arrives to discuss anti-fraud initiatives during a visit to Wisconsin Air National Guard's 128th Air Refueling Wing at Milwaukee Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US July 8, 2026. (credit: Mark Schiefelbein/Pool via REUTERS)Dayan warns of disappearing US support for Israel"Is Israel's standing in the United States today at a very low point in terms of public opinion? The answer is unequivocal, yes. Do we have a big problem in American politics? The answer is also yes," Dayan warned."This is happening both because of things that are happening here, and because of things that are beyond our control, such as the disappearance of the political center in the US. The left is moving much further to the left and the right is going much further to the right, and the broad base of support that Israel once had in the center is steadily disappearing."When Dayan looks at the left, he sees it as "marching very strongly into the depths of progressivism." In his view, it is a troubling sight."They call themselves socialists. I think Mamdani is representative of the Democratic Party, and more than that - he is a kingmaker in the party. We see where the Democratic Party is going, and that's a very serious problem."Follow us on Google