Vice President JD Vance is planning to host a Shabbos dinner this week as part of a broader effort to strengthen ties with the Jewish Republican community, according to i24NEWS. The guest list, initially expected to number around 40 people, has been significantly reduced, largely in an effort to prevent details of the private conversations from becoming public.

The dinner comes during a turbulent period in Vance’s relationship with some pro-Israel Republicans and Israeli officials. Speaking at the All-In Summit in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Vance said the United States “cannot let our Middle East foreign policy be subservient to the State of Israel,” while emphasizing that Israel remains an important military and intelligence partner.

“We’re going to work with people when we work with them. We’re going to disagree when we disagree. And we’re going to pursue America’s interests,” Vance said. He has also argued that Israel is losing ground in the battle for American public opinion and has pointed to growing skepticism toward the U.S.-Israel relationship among younger Americans.

The planned dinner follows Vance’s September 1 appearance at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual gathering in Las Vegas, where he participated in a closed-door fireside chat with RJC national chairman Norm Coleman. There, Vance acknowledged what he described as “a growing suspicion” of the U.S.-Israel relationship among Americans under 40 and argued that Republicans must make the case for the alliance based on American interests.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)