Despite elevation of JD Vance who pushes ‘America First’ foreign policy, Michael Herzog assured by Republicans that party seeks to continue supporting Israel
By JACOB MAGID
JULY 19,2024
Republican nominee and former US President Donald Trump (left), ear bandaged after a failed assassination attempt two days earlier, and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, at the Republican National Convention, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP/Charles Rex Arbogast)
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin — Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog indicated Thursday that he is not overly concerned by the rise of the isolationist wing in the Republican Party following former president Donald Trump’s selection of JD Vance as his running mate.
“There’s indeed an isolationist wing in the party, but from all of the signs that I’ve been receiving in the conversations I’ve been having here, this will have less influence on Israel. It might influence Ukraine,” Herzog told The Times of Israel in an interview on the sidelines of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Vance, who accepted his party’s nomination for vice president on Wednesday, was one of just 15 Republican senators to vote against an aid package for Ukraine and Israel over his opposition to continued US intervention in the war against Russia.
Trump’s stance was echoed by Vance on Monday when he told Fox News that the US should allow Israel to win the war against Hamas “as quickly as possible,” to enable the “Israelis and the Sunni Arab states” to form a united front against Iran.
Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Herzog, left, welcomes US Secretary of State Antony Blinken upon his arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. (AP/Jacquelyn Martin)
The Israeli ambassador to the US also made a point of clarifying Vance’s foreign policy worldview.
“He’s not completely against foreign aid. He just wants foreign governments to pay their share so that it is not just the US footing the bill,” Herzog said.
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In his Wednesday night speech to the RNC, Vance pledged to “make our allies share in the burden of securing world peace: no more free rides for nations that betray the generosity of the American taxpayer.”
Herzog argued that Vance wasn’t referring to Israel.
“You cannot say that Israel isn’t playing its part. We’re fighting this war on our own. We’ve never asked the US to fight on our behalf. We’re doing the bulk of the work against the Iranian axis when it comes to attacks on us,” the Israeli envoy said.
“Accordingly, it’s not the case that someone could come and claim that the US is being asked to provide money, weapons or troops, while the country asking for it isn’t giving anything in return,” he added.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, center, and Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, second from the right, attend the first day of the Republican National Convention, Monday, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. Joining them are from l-r., Tucker Carlson, Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and House Speaker Mike Johnson of La. (AP/J. Scott Applewhite)
Somewhat separate from the GOP’s isolationist wing has been a more populist flank whose members have sometimes espoused antisemitic rhetoric in addition to backing other conspiracy theories.
This subset includes Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Tucker Carlson, who were both given speaking opportunities and seated very close to Trump at the convention this week.
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Also honored with speaking roles were Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and North Carolina Lt. Governor Mark Robinson, who have also been embroiled in antisemitism controversies.
“I’m aware of all of this wing of the Republican Party, but I don’t think it is a central one, and I’m less concerned regarding this issue,” Herzog said.
He pointed to a series of statements made by party members and RNC speakers who pledged to fight antisemitism.
Indeed, the GOP platform adopted this week states that “Republicans condemn antisemitism, and support revoking visas of foreign nationals who support terrorism and jihadism… We will hold accountable those who perpetrate violence against Jewish people.”
Harvard University graduate Shabbos Kestenbaum speaks during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, on July 17, 2024. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP)
The Israeli envoy also pointed out the speech given by Orthodox Jewish Harvard alum Shabbos Kestenbaum who was embraced for suing his alma mater over what he said was its failure to protect pro-Israel students.
“Someone had to make a decision to allow him to speak, and that is significant,” Herzog said.
There was also Republican Jewish Coalition CEO Matt Brooks who received a thunderous ovation when he asked the crowd to cheer if they supported Israel.
Brooks quipped that a speaker would be booed out of the arena if they tried doing that at the Democratic National Convention.
Asked whether that would be the case, Herzog said, “Some would clap and others would not.”
“Of course, there will be pro-Palestinian protests and pressure from the progressive wing [to criticize Israel] at the Democratic convention,” the ambassador acknowledged.
Demonstrators gather on the UCLA campus Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
However, he was similarly dismissive regarding the scope of the progressive wing’s influence as he was regarding the GOP’s isolationist and populist wings.
Herzog pointed to the platform advanced by the DNC this week, which stressed support for Israel in the war against Hamas. “The progressive wing did not receive what it wanted. The positions are largely in line with the traditional Democratic stances.
“In the end, the one who determines the tone is the senior leadership. That’s Biden — I don’t know what his situation will be by then — and other senior officials in the party,” he continued, highlighting the pro-Israel stances of the president and those in his inner circle.
“There’s a progressive flank that is loud and aggressive, but it’s not the majority and it’s not decisive at the moment,” the Israeli ambassador added, offering a qualifier that recognized things may change — one that he did not use when reflecting on the state of the Republican Party.
Republican nominee and former US President Donald Trump (left), ear bandaged after a failed assassination attempt two days earlier, and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, at the Republican National Convention, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP/Charles Rex Arbogast)
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin — Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog indicated Thursday that he is not overly concerned by the rise of the isolationist wing in the Republican Party following former president Donald Trump’s selection of JD Vance as his running mate.
“There’s indeed an isolationist wing in the party, but from all of the signs that I’ve been receiving in the conversations I’ve been having here, this will have less influence on Israel. It might influence Ukraine,” Herzog told The Times of Israel in an interview on the sidelines of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Vance, who accepted his party’s nomination for vice president on Wednesday, was one of just 15 Republican senators to vote against an aid package for Ukraine and Israel over his opposition to continued US intervention in the war against Russia.
He has made Israel somewhat of an exception to his “America First” foreign policy mantra, backing a separate funding package for Israel instead of the one passed by Congress that included billions in assistance for both countries.
Herzog pointed to Trump’s assertion in the presidential debate last month that the US should let Israel “finish the job” in Gaza, adding “I think the isolationist wing will be less influential on this issue.”
Herzog pointed to Trump’s assertion in the presidential debate last month that the US should let Israel “finish the job” in Gaza, adding “I think the isolationist wing will be less influential on this issue.”
Trump’s stance was echoed by Vance on Monday when he told Fox News that the US should allow Israel to win the war against Hamas “as quickly as possible,” to enable the “Israelis and the Sunni Arab states” to form a united front against Iran.
Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Herzog, left, welcomes US Secretary of State Antony Blinken upon his arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. (AP/Jacquelyn Martin)
The Israeli ambassador to the US also made a point of clarifying Vance’s foreign policy worldview.
“He’s not completely against foreign aid. He just wants foreign governments to pay their share so that it is not just the US footing the bill,” Herzog said.
ADVERTISEMENT
In his Wednesday night speech to the RNC, Vance pledged to “make our allies share in the burden of securing world peace: no more free rides for nations that betray the generosity of the American taxpayer.”
Herzog argued that Vance wasn’t referring to Israel.
“You cannot say that Israel isn’t playing its part. We’re fighting this war on our own. We’ve never asked the US to fight on our behalf. We’re doing the bulk of the work against the Iranian axis when it comes to attacks on us,” the Israeli envoy said.
“Accordingly, it’s not the case that someone could come and claim that the US is being asked to provide money, weapons or troops, while the country asking for it isn’t giving anything in return,” he added.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, center, and Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, second from the right, attend the first day of the Republican National Convention, Monday, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. Joining them are from l-r., Tucker Carlson, Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and House Speaker Mike Johnson of La. (AP/J. Scott Applewhite)
Somewhat separate from the GOP’s isolationist wing has been a more populist flank whose members have sometimes espoused antisemitic rhetoric in addition to backing other conspiracy theories.
This subset includes Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Tucker Carlson, who were both given speaking opportunities and seated very close to Trump at the convention this week.
ADVERTISEMENT
Also honored with speaking roles were Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and North Carolina Lt. Governor Mark Robinson, who have also been embroiled in antisemitism controversies.
“I’m aware of all of this wing of the Republican Party, but I don’t think it is a central one, and I’m less concerned regarding this issue,” Herzog said.
He pointed to a series of statements made by party members and RNC speakers who pledged to fight antisemitism.
Indeed, the GOP platform adopted this week states that “Republicans condemn antisemitism, and support revoking visas of foreign nationals who support terrorism and jihadism… We will hold accountable those who perpetrate violence against Jewish people.”
Harvard University graduate Shabbos Kestenbaum speaks during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, on July 17, 2024. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP)
The Israeli envoy also pointed out the speech given by Orthodox Jewish Harvard alum Shabbos Kestenbaum who was embraced for suing his alma mater over what he said was its failure to protect pro-Israel students.
“Someone had to make a decision to allow him to speak, and that is significant,” Herzog said.
There was also Republican Jewish Coalition CEO Matt Brooks who received a thunderous ovation when he asked the crowd to cheer if they supported Israel.
Brooks quipped that a speaker would be booed out of the arena if they tried doing that at the Democratic National Convention.
Asked whether that would be the case, Herzog said, “Some would clap and others would not.”
“Of course, there will be pro-Palestinian protests and pressure from the progressive wing [to criticize Israel] at the Democratic convention,” the ambassador acknowledged.
Demonstrators gather on the UCLA campus Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
However, he was similarly dismissive regarding the scope of the progressive wing’s influence as he was regarding the GOP’s isolationist and populist wings.
Herzog pointed to the platform advanced by the DNC this week, which stressed support for Israel in the war against Hamas. “The progressive wing did not receive what it wanted. The positions are largely in line with the traditional Democratic stances.
“In the end, the one who determines the tone is the senior leadership. That’s Biden — I don’t know what his situation will be by then — and other senior officials in the party,” he continued, highlighting the pro-Israel stances of the president and those in his inner circle.
“There’s a progressive flank that is loud and aggressive, but it’s not the majority and it’s not decisive at the moment,” the Israeli ambassador added, offering a qualifier that recognized things may change — one that he did not use when reflecting on the state of the Republican Party.
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