When the call ended, US officials said nothing about Israel’s plans, or whether Netanyahu had indicated he would heed Biden’s warnings not to strike nuclear or energy sites, which the White House fears could escalate the conflict.
The call came at a time when American national security officials believe that the Middle East is on a knife’s edge, according to a New York Times report.
Officials told Biden that after Iran’s Oct. 1 missile attack, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is not looking to get into a broader war.
But American officials believe that if Israel responds to the strikes by attacking the most sensitive sites in Iran, the result could be an uncontrolled escalation.
According to the newspaper, American officials claimed that the time had come for Israel to consolidate its tactical gains over Hamas and Hezbollah into a broader strategic victory, including some political agreements on a ceasefire and, ultimately, toward a two-state solution that would give the Palestinians a homeland.
But they fear Netanyahu is not interested and is trying to revive his reputation after being caught off guard by the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which killed more than 1,200 Israelis.
The newspaper said that Pentagon officials sought to downplay the importance of the sudden postponement of the visit of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant on Wednesday, although they acknowledged that it was a missed opportunity, or at least a late one, to discuss in detail the Israeli military response to the recent Iranian missile attack.
The newspaper pointed out that senior officials in the US Department of Defense complained that the Israelis were not completely frank regarding the recent important Israeli operations, including the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, last month, an operation that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin learned about during… It was implemented during a phone call with his Israeli counterpart.
Pentagon officials told the newspaper that Austin was angry because the Israelis were not given an additional deadline to allow American forces in the region to increase defensive measures against possible Iranian retaliation.
Call details
During the call, Biden affirmed his strong commitment to Israel’s security, the White House said in a statement.
According to the statement:
- Biden unequivocally condemned the ballistic missile attack launched by Iran against Israel on October 1.
- Regarding Lebanon, the President stressed the need for a diplomatic arrangement to safely return Lebanese and Israeli civilians to their homes on both sides of the Blue Line.
- The President emphasized Israel’s right to protect its citizens from Hezbollah, which has fired thousands of rockets and shells into Israel over the past year alone, while emphasizing the need to reduce harm to civilians, especially in densely populated areas of Beirut.
- Regarding Gaza, the two leaders discussed the urgent need to renew diplomacy to release hostages held by Hamas.
- The President also discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the urgency of restoring access to the north, including immediately reactivating the corridor from Jordan.
- The two sides agreed to remain in close contact during the coming days, whether directly or through national security teams.
