US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu engaged in a 30-minute phone call on Wednesday, marking their first conversation in nearly two months. The call provided an opportunity for the leaders to discuss Israel's planned response to an Iranian ballistic missile attack.
Following the call, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that the leaders covered a range of issues and indicated that a more detailed summary would be released later in the day. The conversation was described as an extension of ongoing discussions between US and Israeli officials regarding Israel's intended reaction to the Iranian attack, with Biden emphasizing the importance of a 'proportional' response.
Vice President Kamala Harris participated in the call from New York on a secure line, underscoring the significance of the discussion. While Harris refrained from providing specific details due to the classified nature of the conversation, she acknowledged its importance as the first direct communication between Biden and Netanyahu since August 21.
There is a prevailing concern among American officials about the need to restrain Israel's potential actions in response to Iran, as tensions in the region continue to escalate. President Biden has expressed his opposition to military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and advised against targeting Iranian oil reserves.
However, there remains uncertainty regarding the extent to which Netanyahu will heed Biden's counsel, with US officials expressing skepticism about the Israeli leader's willingness to follow the advice provided by the US administration.
