Cape Verde: All to know before FIFA World Cup knockout against Argentina
An island nation of just over half a million inhabitants, Cape Verde pulled off the unthinkable by reaching the last 32. Published On 1 Jul 20261 Jul 2026 Five wins to go. How can your team reach the final and win the World Cup 2026? Click here to find out. For decades, Cape Verde was known simply for its crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list But a football fairytale in North America in June has exponentially raised the profile of this tiny island nation across the globe. Cape Verde turned their fans from dreamers to believers, writing a story for the ages when the World Cup debutants became the smallest country to reach the knockout stages of the competition. Come Friday, the archipelago of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean will face reigning champions Argentina in a contest likened to a David vs Goliath battle. Here’s all to know about Cape Verde: Where is Cape Verde? Cape Verde is an island nation off the western coast of Africa. How have Cape Verde performed at the 2026 World Cup? Cape Verde pulled off the unthinkable by reaching the World Cup knockouts, finishing second in a tricky group. They registered three points, holding each of the title favourites Spain, former champions Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to a draw. That was enough to send them to the last 32. Cape Verde’s Dailon Livramento celebrates after their final group match as they qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup [Troy Taormina/Imagn Images via Reuters] Why is Cape Verde’s World Cup run historic? As an nation of just more than half a million inhabitants, expectations were low for Cape Verde on their World Cup debut. But, following a fairytale run in the African qualifiers, the Blue Sharks lived up to their giant-killing reputation, and continue their dream run in North America. Advertisement They are the smallest nation to reach the knockouts in the World Cup’s 96-year history. Cape Verde’s success has been in the planning for a while, with a football talent recruitment strategy built on tapping into its large diaspora community of promising players. Of the starting 11 that were on the field for their 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia in the final group game, six were born outside the country. Three were born in the Netherlands, and the others were from the Republic of Ireland, France and Portugal. When do Cape Verde play Argentina? Cape Verde face title holders Argentina in the round of 32 on Friday in Miami. The match begins at 5pm (22:00 GMT). Who is Cape Verde’s goalkeeper Vozinha? Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha has been arguably the hero of their maiden World Cup campaign, keeping two clean sheets in three games. He remarkably made seven saves in their goalless draw with European champions Spain, keeping the talented Lamine Yamal at bay. His impeccable display between the sticks made him an overnight sensation on social media – Vozinha’s Instagram follower count has jumped from a modest 500,000 to 17.4 million, as of Wednesday. That is more than some of the most famous sportspeople in the world, including NFL legend Tom Brady and NBA star Victor Wembanyama. Vozinha of Cape Verde has become a huge fan favourite at the 2026 World Cup [Michael Steele/Getty Images/AFP] Who are Cape Verde’s best players? Apart from Vozinha – whose real name is Josimar Jose Evora Dias – Cape Verde’s centre-back Diney Borges and defensive midfielder Kevin Pina have played a crucial role in their success so far. Pina also scored once, along with Helio Varela. The 2026 World Cup is not Cape Verde’s first major tournament. They have played at four Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the continent’s showpiece footballing event. Cape Verde’s best result was reaching the quarterfinals in their inaugural campaign in 2013, as well as at their last appearance in 2023. They also came close to qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but were ultimately eliminated in the last match of the group phase. What is Cape Verde’s FIFA world ranking? Cape Verde is ranked 64th. Why are Cape Verde called the Blue Sharks? Their football team is nicknamed “Tubaroes Azuis” – Portuguese for “Blue Sharks”. It is a moniker for the majestic blue sharks that inhabit Cape Verde’s surrounding Atlantic waters, with the archipelago home to several species of sharks and rays. A supporter of the ‘Blue Sharks’ [Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP] Adblock test (Why?)
UN chief fears for ‘millions’ of Palestinians amid UNRWA funding shortfall
Antonio Guterres denounces ‘disinformation, smear campaigns’ against the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. By Reuters, AFP and Al Jazeera Published On 1 Jul 20261 Jul 2026 United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on countries to cover a $100m gap in funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, saying that millions of people are at risk due to the shortfall. The UN chief said on Tuesday that UNRWA’s situation was increasingly precarious due to the large funding shortfall and sweeping restrictions by Israel on the agency’s work throughout the occupied Palestinian territory. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list “As we meet here today, the safety and welfare of millions of Palestine refugees hangs in the balance,” Guterres told a donor conference on the UN agency. Guterres referred to the “utterly appalling” living conditions in Gaza, violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, and Israeli attacks on Lebanon, where many Palestinian refugees have sought shelter. “[UNRWA] faces sweeping restrictions throughout the occupied Palestinian territory. And a cash shortfall that imperils its work across the region,” he said. Because of insufficient funding, UNRWA, which was created by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in 1949 to help Palestinians forced from their homes at the founding of Israel, has been forced to scale back its operations. The secretary-general said that further funding cuts for UNRWA could “push conditions beyond breaking point”. UNRWA works in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, providing aid, schooling, healthcare, social services and shelter to 2.6 million Palestinian refugees. The United States was UNRWA’s biggest donor but cut funding in January 2024 after Israel alleged – without providing evidence – that a small number of UNRWA staff took part in the deadly October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on southern Israel. Advertisement An investigation of the allegations by the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services found that nine UNRWA employees “may have been involved” in the attack. The investigation focused on 19 staff members that Israel had made accusations against and found either no evidence, or insufficient evidence, against the other 10. Guterres said the agency’s funding shortfall jeopardised its ability to meet its mandate, which was renewed by the UNGA six months ago with overwhelming member support. “They cannot keep going like this without urgent backing and financial support from member states,” Guterres said, noting that the agency had taken decisive steps to implement reforms and update its policy on outside and political activities following Israel’s accusations. “UNRWA is a stabilising force in an age of instability,” he said, rejecting what he called continued efforts to undermine the agency through “disinformation, smear campaigns, legislative actions, operational restrictions, diplomatic roadblocks and more”. Such actions threatened the wellbeing of millions of Palestinians as well as the agency’s staff, Guterres said, noting that 390 UNRWA personnel had been killed by Israel in Gaza since October 2023. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the results of the meeting on voluntary contributions to UNRWA would be announced on Wednesday. Speaking at the meeting, Turkiye’s permanent representative to the UN, Ahmet Yildiz, also said that UNRWA was facing unprecedented political attacks and obstruction of its work, while its staff and facilities were the focus of physical assaults by Israel in Gaza and across the occupied territory. According to the Turkish news agency Anadolu, Yildiz said Israel’s actions were “blatant violations of international law”, designed “to deprive Palestinian refugees of their right to return to their land”. Adblock test (Why?)
Mercury’s Thomas says received online abuse following WNBA suspension
Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas was suspended for a game after making contact with her fist on Caitlin Clark’s throat. By The Associated Press Published On 1 Jul 20261 Jul 2026 Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas says she has received death threats and been called racial slurs in the aftermath of her one-game suspension after she made contact with her fist to Caitlin Clark’s throat in last week’s WNBA match against Indiana. Thomas also criticised WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for not doing more to protect the league’s players when she spoke with reporters on Tuesday at the team’s practice facility. “It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this over basketball,” Thomas said. “A lot of us – myself included – didn’t even know the play took place until after the game. Now we’re being painted as thugs. There are death threats out on us. It’s really unacceptable. It’s something that needs to change in this league, and I’m just really sick and tired of it.” Engelbert released a statement Tuesday night. “The WNBA vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate. The safety and well-being of everyone in our community is always the league’s top priority,” Engelbert said. “We are aware of Alyssa Thomas’ comments, and what she and her teammates have experienced is completely unacceptable and not representative of the WNBA community. The league and our security team have been in contact with the Phoenix Mercury organisation and remain committed to protecting all players.” Thomas called the play a “complete accident”, but said her main concern was not the suspension. The six-time All-Star said she did not know she was being suspended until 10 minutes before it was released on social media. Advertisement “It’s not even about the suspension,” Thomas said. “If that’s what they felt was necessary in that moment, then so be it. But I think there are a lot of other plays that you can say the same about. The biggest thing is about our safety. “We’re so concerned about the safety on the court, but time and time again, we’re having people threaten our lives. Leaking addresses out there. Putting crazy pictures that have nothing to do with basketball.” The play happened with 6:52 left in the second quarter in a game against Clark’s Indiana Fever on Wednesday and was deemed to be a non-basketball act. The league gave Thomas a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty for it. No foul was called on the play by officials in the moment. The WNBA is allowed to review a game to reclassify a Flagrant Foul, or to classify as Flagrant any foul not called as such during a game. “People are sending racial slurs and all types of stuff,” Thomas said. “There’s a difference between trolling, and there’s a difference between hatred. The hatred that we’re experiencing over a play that, honestly, was a complete accident – no one even knew it happened. It’s just unfortunate. The league has to do better in this instance.” Thomas served her suspension on Saturday, when the Mercury visited the Toronto Tempo. The Fever renewed their call for player safety in a statement on Thursday. The two teams had played a few days before the Thomas-Clark incident, and there were six technical fouls called and one ejection. Clark picked up her fifth technical of the season in that game. The team petitioned the league to have it rescinded, but the WNBA confirmed that the technical will stand. “It was egregious. The fact that it was a no-call… You’ve got to call it,” Fever coach Stephanie White said after the game. “You’re coming in here aware of what happened two nights ago, and that [expletive] still happens? Absolutely unacceptable.” The Mercury and Fever play again on July 9 in Phoenix. Adblock test (Why?)
USA face Bosnia in World Cup knockouts, with pride, credentials on the line
A year ago, not even the famously bold Zlatan Ibrahimovic believed that the United States could contend for the World Cup title. His view changed after the cohosts won their first two games to clinch top spot in Group D less than 10 days into the tournament. “If you didn’t believe before, I will repeat: start believing,” Ibrahimovic said on a recent television broadcast. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Ibra – as the Swedish football icon is known – and the USA were handed a reality check in a 3-2 loss to Turkiye on Thursday night in Inglewood, California. However, the result did little to dampen the team’s enthusiasm. “Next round is a clean slate,” USA defender Mark McKenzie said. “Again, we want to go far in this thing; we want to win the whole thing. We understand there’s work to be done. We’ve got a team full of hungry guys ready to make that happen.” The USA have a chance to regain momentum and credibility against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 in Santa Clara, California, on Wednesday. Faces, formation and flair Last June, though, USA were in the midst of a four-game losing streak that included a 2-1 defeat to Turkiye in front of a predominantly Turkish crowd of 34,023 in East Hartford, Connecticut. While USA still cannot defeat the Turks, they did not face any problems against Paraguay and Australia, winning their first two World Cup matches for the first time since 1930. So, what changed? First, Mauricio Pochettino figured out his lineup. Only four players remain in the starting XI from a year ago: goalkeeper Matt Freese, defenders Alex Freeman and Chris Richards, and midfielder Malik Tillman. Advertisement Pochettino prefers a 4-2-3-1 formation on the pitch but has used a three-at-the-back setup instead, allowing Freeman and Antonee Robinson to add wing support for Christian Pulisic and Sergino Dest. Freeman earned his first cap at right-back against Turkiye last year, and has seldom been out of the lineup since. Robinson, slowed by injury a year ago, is coming off a strong English Premier League season with Fulham. In central defence, veteran Tim Ream, 38, adds composure, paired with Richards. Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie team with Tillman in midfield. Up front, it is Folarin Balogun, flanked by Dest and Pulisic, or Ricardo Pepi. Also, Pochettino adjusted tactics to personnel. Forget building out of the back or playing patiently through midfield. This USA team signals its all-out, high-pressing approach from the outset. The plan is to concede a throw-in, daring opponents to try a way out of the press. Pochettino copied the launch-it-over-the-touchline idea from one of his former teams, Paris Saint-Germain. So, it is all-out, over-aggressive chasing, double- and triple-teaming. And that poses risks, chief among them, players being nutmeg victims. Several times against Paraguay, USA players were left flat-footed as the ball went under their legs, but it mattered little, since a teammate or two was usually there to help out. Does Pochettino’s team risk making it a habit of getting nutmegged? It happened on a deciding sequence against Turkiye, as Arda Guler got through Christian Pulisic to help set up Kaan Ayhan’s winner. It ended in a second loss in a year against Turkiye, this time before a celebrity-studded, 70,492 crowd fully expecting another USA success. Christian Pulisic has been the poster boy of the US team [Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto] One step further The hosts will need to be able to switch gears, exhibit patience, and vary the speed of the game. High energy and high pressing are not enough to bring down better competition. The USA now have three wins, 15 losses and seven draws against European teams, and only one victory since 1950. The Americans will not be able to avoid European foes for much longer, starting with Bosnia on Wednesday. They can look for inspiration towards the 2002 team, which also started the tournament in Qatar strongly and reached the quarterfinals. In the group stage then, the USA surprised Portugal (3-2), drew with South Korea (1-1), then fell to Poland (3-1). In the round of 16, they blanked southern neighbours Mexico (2-0), before falling to Germany (1-0), a potential Gregg Berhalter equaliser cleared off the line on a Torsten Frings suspected handball. Advertisement Winning the whole thing might be a stretch, and former USA, Everton and Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard’s reasoning probably should be considered. “The US cannot, unequivocally, win the World Cup,” Howard said on the Unfiltered Soccer podcast. “The US will have to play the greatest game they’ve ever played, four games in a row: round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, finals. It’s literally impossible for the USA to win the World Cup. That’s just the reality.” There is a visible and obvious surge in support for the team, and it has put an extra spring in its step as USA presses forward. All the yelling, screaming and exhortations have been energising, but that does not necessarily encourage skilful play or tactical awareness. And, wholesale lineup changes or not, the loss should serve as a wake-up call. Adblock test (Why?)
Trump: US envoys enroute to Doha for ‘perhaps important’ Iran meeting
NewsFeed President Donald Trump said US negotiators are heading to Qatar for what he called a ‘perhaps important’ meeting. The talks follow recent attacks that strained the Strait of Hormuz ceasefire. The US and Iran have until about mid-August to reach a permanent peace deal. Published On 30 Jun 202630 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Mourners light candles after deadly German shelter shooting
NewsFeed Residents lit candles on Monday evening near the site of a shooting that killed six staff members at a women and children’s shelter in Stade, Germany. Police say the shooter’s motive was related to a family dispute. Published On 30 Jun 202630 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Police hunt for suspect after three wounded in Monaco blast
Ukrainian oligarch reported to be among injured in explosion at residential building in the Mediterranean principality. By AFP and Reuters Published On 30 Jun 202630 Jun 2026 Police in Monaco and neighbouring France are hunting for a man suspected of detonating a makeshift bomb in the centre of the wealthy Mediterranean principality, which seriously injured several people, officials said. Three people, including a teenager, were hurt in the explosion that struck at about 9pm local time (19:00 GMT) on Monday in a residential building in Monaco, according to authorities in the micro-state on the French Riviera, known as a haven for billionaires and their luxury yachts. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list According to the AFP news agency, Ukrainian oligarch Vadym Yermolaiev was one of those wounded. Monaco’s Minister of State Christophe Mirmand initially told AFP that the blast appeared to be “an attack”, but later dropped the term, describing it as a “deliberate explosion”. A couple in their 50s or 60s suffered life-threatening conditions, while a 13-year-old who was “very likely related to the couple” suffered less serious injuries, Mirmand said, without disclosing their identities. The explosive device apparently contained bolts and buckshot, Mirmand said. “This is the first time in history, to my knowledge, that such an act has taken place in the principality,” he said. A source close to the investigation who asked not to be named told AFP that one of those wounded was Yermolaiev. Yermolaiev, a multimillionaire Monaco resident, has been subject to sanctions from Kyiv since December 2023, which Ukrainian security services reportedly said stemmed from his alcohol business activity in Russian-occupied Crimea. Advertisement Monaco’s public prosecutor, Stephane Thibault, said a suspect had left a bag or package in the building’s lobby before leaving. French newspaper Le Figaro said video surveillance images showed a man dropping a backpack at the entrance of a residential building shortly before the explosion. Monaco’s Prince Albert II described the incident as a “heinous crime” and “a shock to the entire Monegasque community”. An aide to French Minister of the Interior Laurent Nunez said police were working “to find the perpetrator, who has fled”. An AFP photographer at the scene saw a heavy police presence with access to the area cordoned off, while a helicopter circled overhead. Adblock test (Why?)
Enzo Maresca appointed Man City manager to succeed Pep Guardiola
Former Blues manager inks a three-year deal at Manchester City and succeeds Pep Guardiola, who stepped down in May. By Reuters Published On 29 Jun 202629 Jun 2026 Manchester City have appointed Enzo Maresca as manager to replace departing coach Pep Guardiola next season, the Premier League club announced on Monday. The Italian joins City following a mid-season exit from Chelsea, with the London club saying they had reached an agreement with the Manchester club over a compensation package. British media reported the fee to be about £17 million ($22.5 million). Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Maresca, who has signed a three-year contract, brings familiarity with City’s set-up, having previously coached the club’s youth team. He was also the senior side’s assistant coach under Guardiola during City’s 2018-19 treble-winning season. “Manchester City is a club I know very well and to have the chance to manage this team is a brilliant opportunity for me,” Maresca said in a statement. “The quality of the people who work here is what makes it so special and I want to thank them for showing faith in my ability. “I cannot wait to start coaching the players. I want us to win, play good football and enjoy the pressure of representing Manchester City.” Managerial journey The 46-year-old Italian’s managerial journey began at Parma in 2021, where he lasted 14 games, winning only four times. He was appointed Leicester City boss at the start of the 2023-24 Championship season and guided them back to the Premier League as champions. His success in the East Midlands earned him a move to Chelsea, where he was charged with steering a young but expensively assembled squad back to the Champions League. Maresca led Chelsea to victory in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup during his 18-month spell at Stamford Bridge [Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters] Abrupt departure at Chelsea Maresca guided Chelsea to a fourth-place finish and lifted both the Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup, but his relationship with the club’s owners deteriorated and he left midway through his second season at Stamford Bridge. Advertisement Chelsea said in a statement on Monday that Maresca had expressed a desire to leave in the middle of his contract after being informed of the opportunity to succeed Guardiola at Manchester City. “It became clear to us that it was his strong desire to succeed Guardiola and that he was fully committed to pursuing the opportunity, despite the fact he was under a long-term contract which he had no right to terminate,” Chelsea said in a statement. “In December 2025, our Head Coach unexpectedly and abruptly resigned from his position. Obviously, we felt let down as we believed that his head and heart were focused on another club and another opportunity, despite having just arrived at Chelsea the year before.” City also confirmed they held confidential talks with Maresca last year, while he was still at Chelsea. The Italian acknowledged his departure disrupted Chelsea’s season, with the club eventually finishing ninth after parting ways with his successor Liam Rosenior and turning to caretaker Calum McFarlane. “I recognise that my departure from Chelsea in the middle of the season caused disruption for the club and I apologise for that. It was neither my intention nor my wish,” Maresca said in a statement on the Manchester City website. “I was treated well by everyone at Chelsea and together we achieved great success and memories that I will always treasure.” Chelsea have since appointed Xabi Alonso as manager. Pep Guardiola was Man City boss for 10 years and became the most successful manager in the club’s history [File: Lee Smith/Reuters] Replacing Guardiola Maresca now faces the daunting task of replacing 55-year-old Guardiola, whose decade-long spell transformed City into English football’s dominant force. “City is an incredibly well-run football club. Everything they do is innovative, planned and purposeful,” Maresca said. “For a manager, that is a dream situation. It provides the consistency I need to do my job effectively.” Guardiola, who announced his departure in May, led City to a dazzling array of silverware, including six Premier League titles and one Champions League crown. The Spaniard won the League Cup and FA Cup in his final season to cap a remarkable tenure at the club, but missed out on leading his side to another dramatic Premier League title victory. Adblock test (Why?)
Five killed in shooting at German youth centre
NewsFeed Five people were killed in a shooting at a youth welfare centre in Stade, northern Germany. Police arrested two people, including the suspected gunman, and said there is no ongoing threat to the public as investigators work to establish the motive and full circumstances of the attack. Published On 29 Jun 202629 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
JD Vance’s 2028 strategy is starting to take shape
In a recent interview with the New York Times, Vice President JD Vance denied that there was an “intense rivalry” between him and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. And yet, reports and speculations about tensions between them continue to emerge, with the Rubio camp allegedly spreading rumours that Vance was thinking about pulling out of the presidential campaign before it even starts In response, perhaps, during the past two weeks, the vice president has stepped out of his routine public persona that usually avoids controversy to make bold statements critical of Israel. Rubio, on the other hand, has continued to hold the party line of unconditional support for Israel. While Vance has led efforts to negotiate a peace deal with Iran, which have rattled Israel, Rubio has spearheaded efforts to pressure the Lebanese government into an agreement on Israel’s terms. By becoming the face of Republican scepticism of Israel and clashing with his likely presidential election rival Rubio, Vance appears to be charting his own way to the presidency – one that distances the vice president from what increasingly seem to be unpopular foreign policy positions. Rubio, until recently, had been on the upswing, assigned ever-more important responsibilities by Trump. He has been a leading voice within the administration for a hawkish approach that has encompassed military action from Venezuela to Iran, outweighing the counsel of the more isolationist Vance. When it comes to Israel, Rubio has made a point of being as public and proactive as possible in his support for that country and its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, supporting his appeal for the US to enter the war with Iran, and even going so far as to put his name on determinations leveraging claims of national security threats to deport foreign students critical of Israel. Advertisement While the bulk of his public statements have been directed at the Netanyahu government, it is hard not to read some of Vance’s recent comments as being directly responsive to Rubio’s actions not only abroad, but at home as well. As Vance put it, “…pro-Israel people in the United States make two critical mistakes. One, on the one hand, is not delineating between America’s interest and Israeli interests because they’re not the same. But the second is always conflating criticism of a particular government with Jew hatred, because if everything is Jew hatred, then nothing is Jew hatred.” But, if Vance is creating space between himself and Rubio (including, apparently, by eschewing the increasingly weaponised terminology of “antisemitism”), it must also be the case that there is a political case for his doing so. That case has yet to be tested on the Republican side, where the political elites well beyond Rubio continue to move in lockstep with Israel’s Netanyahu. But Vance, as ever, is reading the base. The same polls that show an absolute collapse of Democratic grassroots support for Israel also show an unmistakable weakening of that support in the Republican base, with one recent survey finding that 57 percent of Republicans under 50 now hold negative views of Israel. Despite the inability of Republican elected officials to rally support behind their criticism of Israel (neither of the two most visible examples, Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie will re-enter Congress next year), the demand signal for more frank conversation has propelled right-wing commenters like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens to ever-greater prominence. Looking into the social media landscape, Republican questioning of the Israel relationship – particularly under the banner question of whether it represents “America First” or “Israel First,” is inescapable. Which is not to say it will be an easy path. As sitting vice president, Vance must defer to Trump; while the latter is currently frustrated with Netanyahu, there are no guarantees that the relationship will not warm up between now and 2028 – or that if Israel elects a new leader this autumn, that that person would not be able to rebuild much of Israel’s political capital in Washington. And similarly, if Vance’s stance on Israel helps him capture the “America First” – which is no easy task given the cohesion within that movement of the Christian Zionist camp that remains strongly pro-Israel – he may then have to contend with a Democratic competitor who seizes the Israel-sceptic mantle more credibly. Advertisement Or not. It is still early, but the favoured nominee on the Democratic side appears to be California Governor Gavin Newsom, whose few forays into commentary on Palestine and Israel have quickly been walked back to appease the pro-Israel backers of the party establishment. Indeed, the Democrats will have their own complicated, and likely ugly, battle to fight when it comes to Israel. What does appear certain, however, is that Israel will be a wedge issue in the upcoming election – and in the wake of the failed Iran war and increasingly unpopular attacks on free speech, both greatly driven by the government of Israel or its aligned lobbies, there is an opening here that Vance, given his competition with Rubio, would have been foolish to ignore. So is Vance’s public criticism of Israel – and pro-Israel voices within his own party genuine, or calculated? As Vance put it in his book Hillbilly Elegy, “I don’t believe in epiphanies. I don’t believe in transformative moments, as transformation is harder than a moment. I’ve seen far too many people awash in a genuine desire to change only to lose their mettle when they realised just how difficult change actually is.” Until now, little is harder in Republican politics than to go against the prevailing dogma on Israel. And while Vance has long demonstrated what might be termed isolationist tendencies, there is no reason to think that his recent comments represent an epiphany. Rather, like any politician, he is reading the tea leaves, and sensing an opportunity on the back of a change that is filtering across American public opinion. Vance may not be committed to driving that change. But he may be smart enough