JD Vance accuses Israel of 'manipulating' US public opinion to prolong Iran war

JD Vance accuses Israel of 'manipulating' US public opinion to prolong Iran warImage source, AFP via Getty ImagesByGrace Eliza GoodwinPublished1 hour agoUS Vice-President JD Vance has accused some members of the Israeli government of trying to influence Americans' opinions to prolong the Iran war. In an interview published on Wednesday, Vance told conservative podcaster Joe Rogan that while he trusts some people within the Israeli government, there are others "who are manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely".The Israeli government did not immediately respond to Vance's comments. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday said: "I think the president would certainly agree that, yes, foreign countries certainly do try to persuade American public opinion."Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience, Vance said that people within the Israeli government have been trying to shift the US away from its efforts to negotiate with Iran. "I definitely think you have seen this very discreet, extremely well-funded campaign to try to derail the negotiation and try to derail the deal," he said, adding there is "exact evidence" that some Israeli leaders "hate the deal". The US reached an agreement with Iran last month, known as the memorandum of understanding (MOU). It allowed for the continuation of formal negotiations, included a now-abandoned 60-day ceasefire and a condition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. However, tensions over the Strait have resumed recently and the US has intensified its strikes on Iran while Tehran targeted US allies in the region. Vance has been heavily involved in negotiations with Iran - attending negotiations in Pakistan in April and travelling to Switzerland in June for the signing of the MOU.He told Joe Rogan that he "doesn't mind" what he described as "certain elements of the Israeli government"...