Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu agreed on Wednesday to stay in “close contact” as Israel considers its response to Iran, the White House said, with the US leader asking the Israeli prime minister to urge civilians in Lebanon to remain safe. Also urged to “minimize” the damage.
Biden and Netanyahu’s call was their first in nearly two months and came amid growing pressure from Washington not to attack Iran’s oil or nuclear facilities less than four weeks before the US presidential election.
The White House readout of the call did not directly mention possible retaliation for last week’s Iranian missile attack on Israel, but said Biden had “unequivocally” condemned Tehran’s attack and expressed support for Israel. Had promised “firm” support.
The readout said Biden and Netanyahu “agreed to remain in close contact in the coming days, both directly and through their national security teams,” with Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris also joining the call.
The call came as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant, who was due to discuss Israel’s response in Washington before Netanyahu’s last-minute postponement of his visit, pledged on Wednesday: “Our attack on Iran will be deadly, precise. And it will be amazing.”
The White House said Biden and Netanyahu also discussed Israel’s strikes against Iranian ally Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The US president “reaffirmed” Israel’s right to defend itself against Hezbollah rocket attacks, it said, “emphasizing the need to minimize harm to civilians, particularly in densely populated areas of Beirut.”
Netanyahu warned earlier on Wednesday that Lebanon faced “destruction” like the Palestinian territory of Gaza, which has been under constant bombardment since Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
On Gaza, the two leaders also discussed “the urgent need to renew diplomacy to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.”
The White House had previously described the call, which lasted about 30 minutes, as “direct,” “honest” and “productive.”
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “Discussions have been ongoing between the US and Israeli governments since last week following the Iran attack. These discussions have continued with the President and Prime Minister.”
“We will continue to discuss with Israel how they will respond.”
Jean-Pierre also responded to Netanyahu’s comments on Lebanon, saying: “We cannot and will not see Lebanon turning into another Gaza.”
But she would not comment on a new book by veteran American journalist Bob Woodward that details the rising tensions between Biden and Netanyahu.
The New York Times book said Biden told Netanyahu in July that “there is a growing perception around the world of Israel that you are a rogue state, a rogue actor.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
