After meeting in Jerusalem on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Vice President JD Vance emphasized that Israel is not an American “client state,” underscoring what they described as a partnership between equals in pursuing Washington’s Gaza peace plan.
The two leaders reviewed progress on the next stages of the 20-point plan announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, which focuses on Hamas disarmament and the reconstruction of Gaza. Vance said the initiative represents a key opportunity to “strengthen regional alliances” while advancing long-term stability.
Vance arrived in Israel on Tuesday, following the earlier visits of senior White House advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who were in the country to support implementation of the plan. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to arrive Thursday and meet with Netanyahu on Friday, marking his third trip to Israel since mid-September.
In a joint statement, Netanyahu dismissed claims that Israel acts under Washington’s direction, saying, “One week they say Israel controls the United States; a week later they say the United States controls Israel. This is hogwash.”
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