Washington: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has canceled a planned visit to the Pentagon set for Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed. Israeli media suggested that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to speak with U.S. President Joe Biden before Gallant’s trip.
The abrupt cancellation on Tuesday comes as tensions between Israel and Iran intensify. Israel is reportedly considering its options in response to Iran’s recent missile attack—its second strike against Israel this year.
While the Pentagon did not provide a reason for Gallant’s change of plans, it referred questions to Israel’s Ministry of Defense. Neither Netanyahu’s office nor Gallant’s team immediately commented on the matter.
“We were just informed that Minister Gallant will be postponing his trip to Washington,” Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said during a news briefing.
Israeli news outlet Ynet reported that Gallant had planned the visit to strengthen U.S.-Israel coordination on Iran. However, Netanyahu reportedly imposed two conditions just hours before the trip: a call with President Biden and cabinet approval of Israel’s response to Iran.
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The White House deferred questions regarding Gallant’s visit to the Israeli government. Although Biden and his administration have hinted at a possible phone call with Netanyahu since late September, there has been no confirmation on whether the call is now scheduled.
President Biden, speaking last Friday, indicated that Israel had not yet made a final decision on how to respond to Iran’s missile strikes. He suggested that if he were in Israel’s position, he would consider alternatives to striking Iranian oil fields.
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Meanwhile, Iran issued a stark warning to Israel, cautioning against any retaliatory actions. Iran’s foreign minister vowed that any attack on Iranian infrastructure would be met with retaliation. Additionally, a senior Iranian official warned Gulf states that allowing their airspace to be used against Iran would be “unacceptable” and would provoke a response.
Western powers are reportedly pushing for a diplomatic resolution, concerned that an escalation between Israel and Iran could destabilize the broader Middle East, particularly its oil-producing regions.
