WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM — On Wednesday (Oct 9), U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke amid rising tensions with Iran, with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant asserting that any Israeli strike on Iran would be "lethal, precise, and surprising."
This 30-minute conversation marked the first exchange between Biden and Netanyahu since August and coincided with escalating hostilities involving Iran and its ally, Hezbollah. However, there are no indications of an impending ceasefire concerning the conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
According to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the call was "direct and very productive," though she noted that both leaders acknowledged their differences.
The Middle East remains on edge as Israel considers its response to a missile attack from Tehran last week, which was a retaliation for Israeli military actions in Lebanon. The Iranian strike did not result in any casualties in Israel.
After labeling Iran's October 1 missile strike as a failure, Gallant stated in a video released following the Biden-Netanyahu call: "Whoever attacks us will be hurt and will pay a price. Our attack will be deadly, precise, and above all surprising; they will not understand what happened and how it happened, and they will see the results."
Netanyahu has vowed that Iran will face consequences for its missile assault, while Tehran has warned that any retaliation would lead to significant destruction, raising concerns about a broader conflict in the oil-rich region that could involve the United States.
The U.S. has expressed support for Israel's actions against Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah and Hamas but has struggled to reduce rising tensions, attempting to mediate a ceasefire in Gaza and persuade Israel to limit its rocket attacks on civilian areas, which have resulted in thousands of casualties.
Relations between Biden and Netanyahu have been tense due to the Israeli leader's approach to the Gaza conflict and hostilities with Hezbollah. Israel maintains that it will continue military operations until its citizens are secure.
In his upcoming book, *War*, journalist Bob Woodward reports that Biden has frequently criticized Netanyahu's strategy, reportedly exclaiming "Bibi, what the f**k?" in response to Israeli strikes near Beirut and in Iran in July.
Regarding the book, a U.S. official familiar with the leaders’ interactions mentioned that Biden has employed direct and candid language with Netanyahu while in office.
Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon described Wednesday's call as "positive," expressing appreciation for U.S. support.
"And as we stated earlier, Israel will retaliate for the attack... We will choose the locations. It will be painful for the Iranian regime," Danon asserted.
Gallant postponed a visit to the Pentagon at Netanyahu's request until after the prime minister's discussion with Biden.
Tensions have intensified recently, as U.S. officials have been caught off guard by Israeli actions, including the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and the destruction of communication devices used by Hezbollah members, which Israel has not confirmed or denied.
Israel has been slow to provide information about its plans for retaliation against Iran's missile attack, according to sources.
Biden indicated last Friday that he would consider alternatives to striking Iranian oil fields if he were in Israel's position, suggesting that Israel had not yet decided how to respond to Iran. He also stated he would not support an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Biden has faced sharp criticism from international allies and members of his own Democratic Party for his inability to leverage the U.S. role as Israel's primary arms supplier to limit Netanyahu's military actions.
As a result, Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also the Democratic presidential candidate for the upcoming election, has been challenged to defend the administration's policy on the campaign trail. Harris participated in the call with Biden and Netanyahu, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Some Arab American voters in Michigan are supporting independent candidate Jill Stein, which could threaten Harris's chances in that critical state in the race against former President Donald Trump, who currently leads her in polling.
Recent Quinnipiac University polls show Harris trailing Trump in Michigan, with 47% support to his 50%. A previous poll on September 18 indicated that Harris had 50% support compared to Trump's 45%.
Israel and Netanyahu have faced widespread condemnation for the approximately 42,000 Palestinian deaths reported in the Gaza conflict, according to the Palestinian health ministry, along with over 2,000 fatalities in Lebanon.
Israel asserts that it is acting in self-defense following Hamas militants' attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and 250 hostages, based on Israeli reports, alongside assaults from other groups like Hezbollah, which supports Hamas.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Miriam Alster via Reuters file
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