Amid the uproar surrounding Zohran Mamdani’s election as mayor of New York City earlier this month, several developments, no less troubling both for American Jews and for America–Israel relations, passed here with barely any notice.
I do not dismiss Mamdani’s rise, and for the purposes of this article, it makes little difference whether he is antisemitic or merely anti-Zionist. Still, he was elected to a municipal position (albeit in an important city with a unique role in the Jewish world), and he will ultimately be judged on his success or failure in that job. Also, there is no doubt that criticism of Israel’s government is growing within the Democratic Party. Yet, none of this justifies or explains ignoring deeply worrying phenomena on the other side of the American political spectrum.
In late October, just days before Mamdani’s election triggered dramatic reactions in Israel, US Vice President JD Vance spoke before students in Mississippi. Along with millions of viewers, I watched the event live, and afterward felt compelled to check that I had heard him correctly.
One student asked whether Israel and its supporters effectively determine the president’s Middle East policy. With his reply, “not this president,” Vance effectively validated accusations of disproportionate influence by pro-Israel advocates on US policy, providing ammunition for those who accuse American Jews of dual loyalty, one of the most dangerous antisemitic tropes.
Another question was about America supporting the Jewish state, given that Jews “prosecute Christians” (sic) and do not accept Jesus as the messiah.
Vance did not address the claim of persecution. He agreed that there is disagreement on faith and said, “Let’s have these conversations,” as though religious doctrine were the basis of foreign policy, and as if such theological disputes have not repeatedly ended in our persecution and bloodshed.
Let us assume that these problematic remarks slipped out in the heat of the moment. Even so, after an outcry from Jewish organizations and various commentators, he offered no apology, no clarification, no reassurance. What’s more, none of the senior Israelis who shout “Antisemitism!” at every opportunity demanded an explanation from the man who may become the next president of the United States.
The day before, Tucker Carlson, the influential conservative podcaster, hosted Nick Fuentes, a 27-year-old far Right activist who promotes white supremacy, Christian nationalism, misogyny, and so on. This gave a million-plus listeners the opportunity to listen to Holocaust-denial and praise of Hitler, among others.
Carlson is widely seen as close to Vance and is thought to have used his influence to secure Vance’s selection as Trump’s running mate.
Several days earlier, the New York chapter of the Young Republicans was dissolved after antisemitic and racist messages from within the group were leaked. Many Republicans criticized the messages and, in that context, Vance’s response, whereby “Young people joke around and we shouldn’t ruin their lives over this,” stood out.
The boundaries of free speech are an issue with which every democracy must grapple, and it is unwise to judge a potential future president or any other leader solely on this matter.
Alarming events surrounding US-Israel alliance
Still, anyone who understands the importance of sustained US support for Israel should be alarmed by all that emerged over just two weeks in October. While criticism from Democrats can be debated, and policy disagreements can be argued and or positions may change, entrenched hostility toward Jews (and by extension, toward their state) at the top levels of government and media leaves no obvious path for remedy.
For decades, Israel cultivated relationships in both parties, found common ground with each side, and consistently remained within the bipartisan consensus, even during periods of intense internal disagreement. This bipartisan foundation explains our many achievements in the United States.
Since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer advanced a doctrine portraying Democrats as adversaries and Republicans as Israel’s sole friends, we have been steadily losing this essential tool for advancing Israel’s interests. The consequences in diplomatic, economic, and security spheres could be severe. Let us hope we come to our senses before this doctrine, too, collapses.
The writer was Israel’s first ambassador to the Baltic states after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, ambassador to South Africa, and congressional liaison officer at the embassy in Washington. She is a graduate of Israel’s National Defense College.