Who Is the President Here?

Axios’s Barak Ravid made a point of noting that Vice President JD Vance’s abrupt decision to postpone a trip to Israel “isn’t about publicly pressuring” Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Rather, the deferral was “logistical.” And yet, “his decision sheds light on how the U.S. feels about the current Israeli policy in Gaza.” At least, that seems to be what Ravid is hearing from his sources.

Reportedly, the Israelis were informed of Vance’s intention to make the trip to the Jewish State after attending the pope’s inauguration, and preparations were intensifying when administration officials suddenly called it off. Ravid provides some background context: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to sign any agreement that would end the war,” he wrote, “and has [shown] little flexibility in negotiations despite the urgent efforts of U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to make a deal and stave off the Israeli operation.”