"He kept Israel safe": Dermer backs Vance

Ron Dermer, former Minister of Strategic Affairs and one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's senior associates, gave extensive public backing today, Monday, to US Vice President J.D. Vance, hours before his closed-door appearance at the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) annual conference in Las Vegas. Dermer called on participants to give Vance a "warm welcome" and said: "I think you made the right decision to invite him."

The remarks were made against the backdrop of criticism in the pro-Israel community regarding Vance, after he called Israel's response to the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran in June "strange panic" and "hysteria." He stated that a country of nine million people cannot "just kill its way out of every national security problem," and warned members of the Israeli cabinet not to attack the "only strong ally that remains" for Israel in the world. Dermer refrained from directly addressing these statements, focusing instead on Vance's contribution to Israel's security.

"He is undoubtedly one of the smartest people I have met in the Senate," he said. "He asked a lot of questions about how the relationship with Israel serves American interests. I had no problem with a person who asks: 'Why is this in our interest?'" According to him, Vance focused throughout his tenure on the question of how the alliance serves the US, and "the simple answer is that America's interests are promoted through close work with Israel."

Role in the war against Iran

Later, Dermer revealed that Vance "played a critical role" in the 12-day war against Iran in June of last year, especially in its opening hours. "He played a critical role in the war, and especially on the first day, when the element of surprise was so vital to our success," he said. "I will be forever grateful for the role he played at that critical moment. He kept Israel safe."

Dermer presented the Trump administration as the most friendly to Israel among the administrations he has worked with. "I don't think there has been a stronger administration throughout the entire period I have been involved in Israel-US relations," he said. According to him, the two countries are coordinated at about 95% on the Iran issue, about 90% on the Lebanon issue, and in Gaza they are "much closer to 100% than even 50%." However, he acknowledged disagreements regarding Turkey, Qatar, and Syria.

Referring to Iran, Dermer declared that it "has been hit hard and is now on its way to the dustbin of history." According to him, within three years its advanced military nuclear capability was destroyed, its ballistic missile program was set back by several years, and its proxies in the region were dramatically weakened. "The octopus arms that were strangling Israel have now become T-Rex arms," he said.

The situation in Gaza

In Gaza, Dermer determined that three of the four war goals have been largely achieved: Hamas's military capabilities have been reduced by 95%–97%, all hostages have been returned, and Gaza no longer poses a strategic threat as it did on October 7. However, the fourth goal—ending Hamas's rule—has not yet been achieved.

"Israel will not win the war until that happens," he said. "When they ask in ten or twenty years what the response to October 7 was, we will have to answer: Hamas lost Gaza." According to him, Israel currently controls 50%–60% of the Strip's territory, and it must complete the demilitarization of Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the end of its rule. However, he called for giving the Trump administration time to exhaust the possibility of achieving this without further military action: "It will happen the easy way or the hard way. We will not allow Hamas to remain in Gaza—that will not happen."

Dermer also sharply attacked the claims of "genocide" in Gaza, which he compared to the claim that the Earth is flat. According to him, the Jewish community and supporters of Israel should set a red line towards those who spread this claim: "No platform, no support. You have made yourselves enemies of the Jews and a clear and immediate danger to Jews. This is a dangerous lie the likes of which the Jewish people have not seen since the blood libels of the Middle Ages."