Israeli UN Ambassador Challenges Vance on Iran War Impact
Danny Danon disputes the view that the conflict with Iran was the primary cause of Republican losses in the US midterm elections, arguing that the decision to engage was made by Washington.
By Isabella Kaur ·
Israel’s permanent representative to the United Nations has pushed back against the narrative that the recent war with Iran was the decisive factor behind the Republican Party’s significant defeat in the US midterm elections. Vice President JD Vance had previously asserted that the conflict was the core reason for the party's losses and suggested that the United States needs to adjust its relationship with Israel.
In an interview with the Israeli media outlet i24 News, Ambassador Danny Danon dismissed the idea that Israel bears the blame for the election results. He described the tendency to attribute all political setbacks to Israel as overly simplistic. Danon expressed regret that many observers linked the surge in domestic prices, particularly oil costs, directly to the situation in Israel, despite the complexities involved.
The ambassador emphasized that the strategic choice to attack Iran was fundamentally an American decision. While Israel supported the US effort and believed it was the correct course of action, Danon clarified that it was not a unilateral Israeli move. This distinction is central to his argument that the political fallout in Washington should not be solely attributed to Jerusalem.
The US and Israel launched their operations against Iran at the end of February. According to a report by The New York Times, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared intelligence with President Donald Trump in the weeks prior to the conflict. This intelligence suggested that an attack would trigger a popular uprising among Iranians to overthrow their government. However, no such regime change has materialized.
Instead, Iran has secured control of the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, which has caused energy prices to spike globally. This increase in the cost of living has become a major concern for American voters. The Democratic Party has actively highlighted this economic strain to gain electoral advantage during the campaign season.
Following the election results, which saw the Republicans lose control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, Vice President Vance took to the social media platform X to offer his analysis. He stated that the reason for the defeat was obvious to most people and identified the war as the primary cause. He noted that President Trump had acknowledged this point in a recent interview.
Vance argued that polling data indicated Trump voters desired a shift in the US relationship with Israel, an end to the war, and a stronger focus on domestic cost of living issues. He challenged those who believed the conflict was worthwhile, asking if they felt losing the Senate for the next six years was an acceptable trade off.
Danon acknowledged that Israel must now pay close attention to critical voices emerging from both the Democratic and Republican parties. He noted that the rising prominence of anti Israel politicians in the US will make diplomatic relations more difficult. Regarding a potential post election deal between the US and Iran, he stated that Israel will always take the necessary steps to ensure its own security.
Within Israel, the US election results have triggered a wave of criticism directed at Prime Minister Netanyahu. Many politicians and commentators argue that he has become a toxic figure for American voters of both parties. Some critics contend that his unpopularity in the US makes it impossible for him to continue leading the country effectively.
One former Israeli diplomat described the election outcome as the conclusion of a fifty year era in US Israel relations. The diplomat warned that the future of the alliance is currently clouded in uncertainty, marking a significant shift in the geopolitical landscape.
