In private remarks, Vice President JD Vance explained why he engages with some influencers accused of antisemitism. He also urged the audience to help articulate why a strong relationship with Israel is in America’s interest.

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Republicans hold their trolls close. For Democrats, it’s more complicated.

© Nic Antaya for The New York Times

The appearance, which was to be closed to the news media, comes at an extraordinarily sensitive time for Jewish Americans and the U.S. relationship with Israel.

A growing number of former Israeli generals, intelligence officials and prime ministers are accusing settlers in the West Bank of committing ethnic cleansing with government support. “Once a society behaves this way,” one said, “that society is doomed.”