Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is “postponing his trip” to Washington, DC, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said Tuesday.
This comes after Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed Gallant not to depart tonight for the United States, where he was scheduled to meet with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday, an Israeli official has told CNN.
There were two reasons for Netanyahu’s instructions to Gallant, an Israeli official said. Firstly, Netanyahu wants a phone call with US President Joe Biden before Gallant’s trip, the official said. Also, the prime minister wants the cabinet to vote on the nature of Israel’s response to Iran’s attack before Gallant’s trip, according to the official.
CNN has reached out to the Israeli defense ministry for comment.
Some context: CNN earlier reported that senior US officials have acknowledged that the US has limited leverage over what Israel decides to do against Iran following Tehran’s missile attack last week.
“The only leverage that the Americans have right now is summoning the defense minister to Washington and buying time,” Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli diplomat, told CNN. With Gallant in Washington, Pinkas says, the US likely believes Israel will wait to attack.
