A meeting took place Wednesday in Jerusalem between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Vice President JD Vance. During the meeting, Vice President Vance said these were "decisive days" and expressed confidence that "the ceasefire will hold."
The talks are considered highly significant not only regarding the implementation of the Trump plan, but also because this marks Netanyahu's first working meeting with a prominent Republican presidential contender in the post-Trump era.
Vance, who seen as a rising star in the Republican Party and is known for his isolationist views advocating reduced US involvement in global affairs, is nonetheless a vocal supporter of Israel. He has previously endorsed Trump's policies, including his regional vision and hardline stance toward Israel's enemies, including Iran and the terrorist organizations Hamas and Hezbollah.
Part of the conversation between Netanyahu and Vance is being held one-on-one, followed by a larger session that includes senior officials from both sides, among them Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
Three key issues are being discussed during the talks:
Preserving the ceasefire in Gaza. The US is emphasizing mechanisms to sustain the current pause in hostilities. Vance is urging Israel to avoid overly aggressive military responses that could jeopardize the fragile ceasefire. Netanyahu, in turn, is expected to stress that continued violations by Hamas cannot be tolerated, warning that leniency would only embolden the group's most extreme factions, who are resisting disarmament and the handover of control.
The next stage of Trump's plan. Talks are focusing on setting principles for negotiations over the continuation of the Trump Gaza plan. This includes coordinating with Washington on critical issues such as the timeline and process for disarming Hamas and transferring governance in Gaza. The discussions are also addressing the structure of a future civil authority to manage the Strip, as well as the force that would initially dismantle Hamas and later ensure stability. In parallel, the sides are discussing post-war regional normalization and agreements with additional countries that do not yet have formal ties with Israel.
Iran. Another topic on the agenda are the ongoing sanctions against the Islamic Republic and the joint effort to prevent Iran from rebuilding its nuclear program.
