Netanyahu confronts Vance over his criticism of Israeli government

Vice President Vance and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a "direct" conversation about their differences in a one-on-one meeting in Washington on Tuesday evening, Israeli and U.S. officials said.

Why it matters: Vance has been the most Netanyahu-skeptical voice in Trump's inner circle since the beginning of the war. As the war dragged on, he became increasingly critical of the Israeli prime minister.

Vance took on a larger role in war policy and Iran negotiations as the conflict progressed. That culminated in the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, which Vance took a lead role in defending. Netanyahu opposed the agreement but didn't come out against it publicly, hoping it would collapse on its own. It did several weeks later.

Tensions between the two have been simmering behind the scenes. Netanyahu was unhappy about Vance's public criticism of him — the vice president accused the Israeli leader of stoking opposition to the MOU and of being insufficiently loyal to President Trump. Netanyahu was also privately critical of Vance's role in the war.

Vance, meanwhile, believed Netanyahu was deploying his associates and allies in the pro-Netanyahu media in Israel and the U.S. to attack him and undermine him politically.

The meeting at Blair House on Tuesday was a chance for the two men to try to clear the air.

Inside the room: A senior Israeli official said Netanyahu spoke to Vance about his recent criticism of the Israeli government and Israel's standing among Republicans.

"It was a frank and candid conversation," the Israeli official said.

A U.S. official confirmed that characterization: "The conversation was direct."

The vice president's office declined to comment.

Catch up quick: In March, Vance and Netanyahu had a tense phone call during which Vance pointed out that several of Netanyahu's predictions about the war had proved far too optimistic, particularly the prospect of a popular uprising toppling the regime.

Since the April 8 ceasefire, Vance has become the administration's most outspoken defender of diplomacy with Iran, repeatedly arguing that Trump's objective should be to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon without becoming mired in an open-ended military campaign.

In June, Vance issued a blunt public warning to members of the Israeli government who were attacking the deal with Iran. "If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world," Vance said.

Then, in a July interview on Joe Rogan's podcast, Vance accused some members of the Israeli government of running an influence campaign to push the U.S. away from diplomacy and keep the war going.

On the same podcast, Vance claimed Jeffrey Epstein had connections to "the highest levels of Israeli intelligence." But he offered no evidence for the claim, drawing criticism for amplifying conspiracy theories about Israel. ...