Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu agreed Wednesday to remain in “shut contact” as Israel mulls its response to Iran, with the US chief additionally urging the Israeli premier to “decrease” hurt to civilians in Lebanon, the White Home mentioned.
Biden and Netanyahu’s name was their first in practically two months and got here amid mounting stress from Washington to not strike Iran’s oil or nuclear amenities lower than 4 weeks earlier than the US presidential election.
A White Home readout of the decision didn’t straight point out attainable retaliation for an Iranian missile strike on Israel final week however mentioned Biden had condemned Tehran’s assault “unequivocally” and pledged “ironclad” assist for Israel.
Biden and Netanyahu “agreed to stay in shut contact over the approaching days, each straight and thru their nationwide safety groups,” the readout mentioned, including that Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris additionally joined the decision.
The decision got here as Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Gallant, who had been as a result of talk about Israel’s response in Washington on Wednesday earlier than the last-minute postponement of his go to by Netanyahu, pledged on Wednesday: “Our assault on Iran shall be lethal, exact and stunning.”
Biden and Netanyahu additionally mentioned Israel’s offensive in opposition to Iranian ally Hezbollah in Lebanon, the White Home mentioned.
The US president “reaffirmed” Israel’s proper to defend itself in opposition to Hezbollah rocket assaults “whereas emphasizing the necessity to decrease hurt to civilians, particularly within the densely populated areas of Beirut,” it mentioned.
Netanyahu had warned earlier Wednesday that Lebanon confronted “destruction” like that within the Palestinian territory of Gaza, which has been underneath relentless bombardment since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assaults on Israel.
On Gaza, the 2 leaders additionally “mentioned the pressing must renew diplomacy to launch the hostages held by Hamas.”
The White Home had earlier described the decision lasting round half-hour as “direct,” “sincere” and “productive.”
“The US and the Israeli authorities have had discussions since final week since after the Iran assault. These discussions continued with the president and the prime minister,” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned.
“We will proceed to have these discussions with Israel on how they’ll reply.”
Jean-Pierre additionally reacted to Netanyahu’s feedback on Lebanon, saying: “We can’t and won’t see Lebanon flip into one other Gaza.”
However she wouldn’t touch upon a brand new guide by veteran US journalist Bob Woodward detailing rising tensions between Biden and Netanyahu.
Biden had informed Netanyahu in July that “the notion of Israel around the globe more and more is that you are a rogue state, a rogue actor,” The New York Occasions reported the guide as saying.
