Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered Defense Minister Yoav Gallant not to travel to the Pentagon for talks on Iran until US President Joe Biden calls him, a source confirmed to The Jerusalem Post.
Netanyahu’s decision to cancel Gallant’s flight seems to be a political maneuver to prevent Gallant from receiving credit for solidifying a joint US-Israel strategy on Iran, despite their shared views on the matter.
Gallant was scheduled to meet with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin as Israel considers its retaliatory strike against Iran. The absence of a call from Biden following Iran’s attack has strained US-Israel relations.
There is tension between Netanyahu and Gallant, exacerbated by disagreements over IDF tactics and political differences. Gallant publicly criticized Netanyahu’s judicial reforms, leading to strained relations.
Gantz comments
National Unity chair MK Benny Gantz criticized the cancellation, stating that it harmed national security for personal and political reasons.