Vice President JD Vance intensified criticism of the Israeli government this week, alleging that certain elements within Israel have been orchestrating efforts to influence U.S. public opinion on the conflict with Iran and to undermine ongoing diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the war.

In an interview with podcaster Joe Rogan, Vance asserted that “some people within their system” are deliberately attempting to manipulate American sentiment to prolong the conflict indefinitely, without advancing any clear objectives. Vance, who played a key role in negotiating a truce with Iran last month, characterized this alleged campaign as a foreign interference effort designed to derail the diplomatic process.

Israel has reportedly allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to bolster U.S. support for the war and to enhance its global image, including a $45 million lobbying contract awarded to Brad Parscale, a former campaign manager for former President Donald Trump. Vance referenced a recent Time Magazine report suggesting that funds from this contract were used to pay online influencers who criticized him personally.

“I see that there’s a literal foreign influence campaign being funded to tank the very deal that I was pursuing, and many of the people receiving that money were attacking me in completely dishonest ways,” Vance said. “My response to that is, ‘Well, go to hell.’”

Brad Parscale denied the allegations, stating on social media that no contract funds were used to target Vance or the ceasefire agreement. Parscale emphasized that claims accusing him of attacking the memorandum of understanding (MOU) or the administration were untrue.

Requests for comment from Vance’s office went unanswered, and a spokeswoman for Israel’s embassy in Washington declined to provide a statement.

This dispute marks a notable escalation in tensions between Washington and Israel, long-standing allies in the Middle East, over the handling of the Iran conflict and the prospects for a lasting truce.