Israel rolled out extensive security arrangements Tuesday for the arrival of Vice President JD Vance, whose visit is part of Washington’s renewed push to secure the tenuous ceasefire in Gaza. His arrival comes as American officials quietly express concern that Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu could unravel the truce and resume hostilities.
Traveling alongside Second Lady Usha Vance, the vice president touched down at Ben Gurion Airport, where he was welcomed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Israel’s envoy to Washington Yechiel Leiter, and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee.
Shortly after landing, Vance met for a working lunch with senior White House officials Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, according to a statement released by his office. He then held a working lunch with top White House aide Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the statement said, noting that discussions centered on the next phase of the peace process and monitoring mechanisms for the truce.
Vance’s schedule included a trip to southern Israel, where he planned to visit the command center for the new multinational task force responsible for supervising the implementation of the ceasefire. He was then expected to head to southern Israel to the headquarters of the emerging US-international task force that will oversee the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire.
Later Tuesday, the vice president was slated to address reporters at a press conference at the King David Hotel in Yerushalayim. Vance will hold a press conference at 6 p.m. at the King David Hotel in Yerushalayim, according to the White House.
On Wednesday, his itinerary includes high-level meetings with both Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog at their official residences in Yerushalayim. On Wednesday, he will meet with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog in Yerushalayim.
The Trump administration, which brokered the current ceasefire agreement, has intensified diplomatic efforts to preserve the fragile calm following weekend violence in Gaza. The Trump administration has redoubled its efforts to cement the fragile Gaza peace agreement it helped to broker, after Israel accused Hamas of stalling its handover of hostages’ bodies and deadly violence flared up in the territory over the weekend.
Vance’s visit follows that of special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner, who arrived a day earlier for a new round of consultations with Israeli officials. Vance’s arrival comes a day after US special envoy Steve Witkoff and top White House adviser Jared Kushner also arrived for talks about the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Israeli police launched an elaborate security operation to secure the vice president’s movements, triggering major disruptions across central Israel. The Israel Police mounted a large-scale security operation for Vance that was expected to cause widespread traffic chaos due to road closures ahead of Vance’s arrival in Israel and during his stay.
Motorists were warned of extensive closures, including the complete shutdown of Route 1 between the Ganot interchange and Jerusalem starting at 1 p.m., and restrictions along Route 6 and Route 35 near Kiryat Gat. From 1 p.m., Route 1 — the main highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv — will be shut to motorists eastbound from the Ganot interchange. Route 6 — the main north-south highway –will be closed southbound between the Daniel interchange and the Kiryat Gat junction. Additionally, Route 35 will be blocked westbound from the Kiryat Gat interchange to the Kiryat Gat Industrial Zone.
Yerushalayim itself braced for severe congestion, with major arteries closed for hours. The entrance to Yerushalayim will be blocked from 3 p.m. Inside the capital at the same time, police will close the Shazar Tunnel, Ben Tzvi Boulevard, Aza Street, Agron Street, Paris Square, Ha-Mekhes Square, and King David Street.
Authorities added that additional closures would continue intermittently through Thursday, affecting key routes in and around the capital’s government district and Old City.
{Matzav.com}
