Washington: US Vice President-elect JD Vance emphasized that criticism of Israel should not be conflated with antisemitism, advocating for a clear distinction between opposing specific Israeli policies and harboring hatred toward Jewish people.

According to Anadolu Agency, Vance made his views known through a post on the US social media platform X, stating, "I would say there's a difference between not liking Israel (or disagreeing with a given Israeli policy) and anti-semitism." His comments came in response to excerpts from an Atlantic report highlighting an increase in antisemitism among younger generations. Vance criticized the report, describing mainstream journalism as "profoundly uninteresting and lame," and accused it of being consumed by its own pieties.

Vance further criticized the report's lack of demographic discussion concerning generational divides in antisemitism. He highlighted the importance of reducing immigration and promoting assimilation as significant steps to counter ethnic hatred, a stance he believes is ignored due to a lack of curiosity and introspection among journalists. He cited an analysis by Charles Fain Lehman of the Manhattan Institute, which suggested that foreign-origin is a stronger predictor of antisemitism than ideology or age.

Last week, Vance expressed disagreement with fellow Republicans warning of a rise in antisemitism within the party. Speaking to NBC News, he stated that judging individuals based on skin color or immutable characteristics is fundamentally anti-American and anti-Christian. He affirmed his commitment to addressing issues of antisemitism, noting that in his dialogues with young conservatives, there is no evident surge in antisemitism.

Vance's remarks follow a tragic attack on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Sydney's Bondi Beach, where 15 people were killed.