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Gallant Heads to Washington as U.S. Deliberates on Israel’s Next Move Against Iran
Edited by: Fern Sidman
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is preparing for a critical visit to Washington on Tuesday, as tensions between Israel and Iran continue to escalate. This visit comes just days after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on Israel, marking a significant escalation in the long-standing hostilities between the two nations. According to a report in The Jerusalem Post, Gallant’s discussions with U.S. officials will focus on the scope of Israel’s potential retaliatory strike against Iran. The U.S. is expected to play a key role in shaping Israel’s response, given the broader regional and international implications of any military action.
Speaking at the Nevatim Air Force Base on Sunday, Gallant issued a stern warning to those underestimating Israel’s military capabilities. “Whoever thinks that a mere attempt to harm us will deter us from taking action, should take a look at [our achievements] in Gaza and Beirut,” Gallant said, referring to Israel’s recent successful military campaigns. As The Jerusalem Post reported, Gallant emphasized that Israel possesses significant defensive and offensive power, and that its response to Iran will come “at the time and place of our choosing.”
#FPNewsUpdate: Defence minister says committed to defeating enemies, defending Israel
Israeli Defence Minister @yoavgallant on Monday said the military remained committed to taking the fight to the country’s enemies, as Israel commemorated the first anniversary of the October 7… pic.twitter.com/WPEL9DlIya
— Firstpost (@firstpost) October 7, 2024
The U.S. administration, however, is treading carefully. President Joe Biden has expressed strong reservations about any Israeli strike that could escalate the situation into a wider regional conflict. The Jerusalem Post report noted that Biden is particularly concerned about the potential consequences of targeting Iran’s oil fields or its nuclear facilities, given the far-reaching economic and geopolitical effects such an attack could have. KAN News reported on Sunday that Washington has even offered Israel financial incentives to reconsider its planned operations, suggesting the U.S. is eager to avoid a scenario that could lead to a regional war.
At the Shabtai Shavit World Summit, held at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) at Reichman University, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew addressed these concerns. He reiterated the U.S. position that any escalation between Israel and Iran must be carefully managed to prevent the violence from spiraling out of control. “What we’ve made clear publicly is that it’s important for this not to escalate [Israeli-Iranian violence] into a regional war,” Lew said, according to the report in The Jerusalem Post. He added that while the U.S. understands Israel’s need to respond to the missile attacks, it is essential that any retaliation is measured to avoid broader conflict.
Despite the U.S. calls for restraint, Lew acknowledged the severity of the recent Iranian missile barrage, which saw 200 ballistic missiles fired at Israel within a matter of hours. “We haven’t said that Israel should just tolerate having 200 ballistic missiles shot at it in a little over an hour,” Lew remarked, as he called attention to how dangerous and unprecedented the attacks were. However, he also cautioned that Israel should not make decisions about targeting Iran’s nuclear program hastily, even in the wake of its recent military successes.
#FPNewsUpdate: Defence minister says committed to defeating enemies, defending Israel
Israeli Defence Minister @yoavgallant on Monday said the military remained committed to taking the fight to the country’s enemies, as Israel commemorated the first anniversary of the October 7… pic.twitter.com/8Dn3VK89Go
— Firstpost (@firstpost) October 7, 2024
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei issued a stark warning to both Israel and the U.S. not to retaliate against Iran. In a post on X/Twitter, Khamenei defended Iran’s missile strikes, referring to them as a “minimum punishment” for Israel’s actions in the region. The Jerusalem Post reported that Khamenei described Israel as a “bloodthirsty regime” and a “rabid dog” of the U.S. in the Middle East. He also praised the missile attacks, calling them “completely legal and legitimate,” and warned that Iran would not hesitate to carry out similar operations in the future if necessary.
In a powerful interview ahead of the anniversary of the October 7th massacre, Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivered a compelling message to the people of the Middle East, calling for unity against the shared threat posed by Iran. Speaking to the Saudi news organization Al Arabiya, Herzog urged nations across the region to come together in peace and form a military alliance against Iran, likening it to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as per the information provided in The Jerusalem Post report. His message was both a call for solidarity among nations oppressed by Iran and a strategic appeal for collective security in the face of increasing regional instability. As The Jerusalem Post reported, Herzog’s rare interview emphasized the need for a regional coalition to counter what he termed an “empire of evil.”
“We are all the children of Abraham, and I call upon the people of Lebanon, the people of Iran, the people of all of the oppressed nations in the region to rise up and understand that if we move this empire of evil, if we confront it and be tough together, we surely can hope for a better future and create a NATO-like structure in the region that blocks radicalism,” Herzog said. His remarks reflect the growing urgency in Israel’s diplomatic rhetoric, particularly as Iran continues to expand its influence through proxy forces and militant groups. As The Jerusalem Post highlighted, Herzog framed Iran as the primary aggressor in the region, calling for decisive collective action against its destabilizing actions.
Herzog did not hold back in his criticism of Iran’s leadership, particularly its Supreme Leader, who he accused of fueling hostility rather than seeking peace. “Iran is the only country in the world who calls for the eradication of another member state of the United Nations – that’s Israel,” Herzog pointed out, underscoring the existential threat Israel faces from Tehran. Reflecting on a recent speech by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Herzog expressed disappointment at the absence of any conciliatory message. “There was no message of accommodation, of extending a hand or saying, let’s move together, two great historic nations to help change the lives of people in the Middle East,” Herzog stated. Instead, he highlighted Iran’s relentless investment in its war machine, spending billions to spread “pain and havoc” across the region. As The Jerusalem Post reported, Herzog’s remarks positioned Israel as offering a hopeful alternative to Iran’s path of destruction.
The escalating conflict between Israel and Iran has drawn in international support. According to The Jerusalem Post, the United States, France, and Britain have all aligned with Israel in its efforts to defend itself against Iran’s direct strikes. In recent months, their militaries, along with those of Jordan and Israel, have participated in joint air defense operations, signaling their commitment to countering Iran’s aggression. These joint exercises, conducted in April and again last week, were a clear demonstration of the collective resolve to protect the region from Iranian threats. Yet, despite this show of unity, tensions are emerging, particularly between Israel and France.
On Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron called for an arms embargo on Israel concerning the use of offensive munitions by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza. This proposal has sparked significant controversy. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that such an embargo would ultimately serve to strengthen Iran and its proxies. The Jerusalem Post reported that in a phone conversation with Macron, Netanyahu stressed the dangers of restricting Israel’s ability to defend itself while it is engaged in direct confrontation with Iranian-backed forces. “Iran supports all parts of its axis of terrorism. Israel expects its friends to stand behind it and not impose restrictions that will only strengthen the Iranian axis of evil,” Netanyahu’s office stated, paraphrasing the message delivered to Macron.
The conversation between Netanyahu and Macron called attention to the delicate balance that Israel must navigate in securing international support while maintaining its military independence. As The Jerusalem Post reported, Israeli officials fear that limiting their ability to strike back against Iranian proxies would embolden Tehran and weaken Israel’s defense posture at a critical moment in the conflict.
Further demonstrating France’s complex position in the region, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot is scheduled to visit Israel on Monday. His visit, part of a broader regional tour, comes amid heightened tensions and signals France’s intention to stand in solidarity with Israel despite Macron’s contentious call for an arms embargo. The Jerusalem Post noted that Barrot’s visit is expected to focus on France’s broader commitment to regional stability, even as differences emerge over how best to manage the ongoing conflict with Iran.
As the anniversary of the October 7th massacre approaches, Herzog’s interview and Netanyahu’s exchanges with international leaders shine a proverbial spotlight on Israel’s determination to rally both regional and global powers in its fight against Iranian influence. While Israel continues to push for a NATO-style military alliance in the Middle East, its path forward will be shaped by both the cooperation and the challenges it faces from its international allies.
