Crucial telephone conversation
Biden apparently doesn’t think reaction is necessary
April 14, 2024, 3:39 p.m
The Israeli war cabinet meets again to consider a response to the major Iranian attack. According to the New York Times, US President Biden’s team is currently advising the Israeli government in detail to avert a retaliatory strike – with clear success.
According to a report in the New York Times, US President Joe Biden is currently trying to convince Israel not to launch a counterattack on Iran. Citing US officials, it said Biden and his team hoped to avoid further escalation that could lead to a larger war in the Middle East. She advised Israel accordingly that successfully defending against Iranian airstrikes was a major strategic victory that may not require another round of retaliation. The U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed that the decision ultimately rests with Israel. A meeting of the Israeli war cabinet is scheduled for the afternoon to discuss a response.
The reports further “New York Times” also how crucial a phone call Biden had with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the first hours after the attack could have been in preventing a quick retaliation. Citing two Israeli officials, it said that one of the possible responses to the attack, a retaliatory strike proposed by some members of Netanyahu’s cabinet, was canceled after the two leaders spoke by phone and because the attacks caused relatively little damage .
Biden’s statement after the phone call also contained explicit praise for the country’s defense performance: “I told him that Israel had demonstrated a remarkable ability to repel even unprecedented attacks and to win against them – and thus clearly signaled to its enemies that that they cannot effectively endanger Israel’s security.” Biden also announced that he would convene his G7 colleagues to coordinate a joint diplomatic response to Iran’s “brazen” attack.