US Vice President JD Vance on Monday declined to endorse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for re-election, a day after President Donald Trump backed the embattled Israeli leader.“The president has the most influential endorsement in American or international political history,” Vance said during an interview with journalist Mark Halperin.Asked about his position, Vance said he would focus on US elections rather than get involved in Israeli politics.“I endorse American candidates, and that’s where I’m focused on the midterms,” Vance said while travelling to campaign for Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley of North Carolina. “So, I’m not getting involved in Israeli elections.”Vance has previously campaigned for a foreign leader, travelling to Hungary last spring to support then-prime minister Viktor Orban before his party lost the parliamentary election.His refusal to follow Trump’s lead on Netanyahu comes at a sensitive time for Jewish Americans and US-Israel relations, with concerns over antisemitism rising ahead of the US midterm elections.Republicans have sought to portray Democrats, including Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, as hostile towards Jews and Israel, even as divisions persist within their own party.Vance has also faced questions from Jewish Republicans about his commitment to Jewish Americans and the US alliance with Israel. Last month, he addressed the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas, leaving a positive impression while stopping short of distancing himself from conservative podcast host Tucker Carlson.Carlson faced criticism last year for interviewing antisemite Nick Fuentes on his podcast.Vance has also criticised elements of Netanyahu’s government over the war with Iran. In June, he sharply criticised Israeli officials who opposed Trump’s efforts to resolve the conflict. A month later, he alleged that some Israeli officials had attempted to influence American public opinion to derail negotiations.“There are some people within their system that we know beyond a shadow of a doubt are manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely,” Vance said during an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast.