Today, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant postponed his trip to Washington, where he was to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on the plans to strike Iran. Israel’s Defense Ministry informed the Pentagon only hours before Gallant was scheduled to depart, apparently due to last-minute conditions that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu put on Gallant. In particular, the Times of Israel cites various Israeli media reporting that Netanyahu wants to speak with U.S. President Biden prior to giving Gallant approval to proceed.
Israel’s Channel 12 news said that Netanyahu also wanted his security cabinet to first approve of Israel’s strike on Iran, before having Gallant depart. They report further that Gallant was to work out U.S. agreement and coordination on Israel’s strike and the level of support for Israel when Iran responds.
