Netanyahu and Biden to speak as Israel's Iran response nears

U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are set to speak on Wednesday amid frantic efforts by Washington to temper Israel’s response to Iran’s missile attack last week.

The call is scheduled after a visit to the U.S. by Israel’s defense chief, Yoav Gallant — seen as a chance to coordinate the response to Tehran — was abruptly postponed. That was because of last-minute objections to the trip by Netanyahu, Israeli officials said.

Biden and Netanyahu haven’t spoken since August, amid growing strains over Israel’s rejection of previous U.S. calls for a cease-fire in the wars against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The U.S., European and Arab states are trying to dissuade Netanyahu from opting to strike Iranian nuclear or oil facilities, which they fear could spark a Middle East-wide conflict and push up energy prices.

Those concerns are especially acute for Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with the U.S. elections less than a month away.

Iran fired about 200 missiles at Israel just over a week ago, in part due to the intense wave of attacks against its allied militia Hezbollah. Netanyahu warned Tuesday that Lebanon could face a long war and devastation on the scale of Gaza, which is largely in ruins after a year of Israel’s war on Hamas in the Palestinian territory.

Hours before Gallant’s planned departure to the U.S., Netanyahu decided his minister shouldn’t go and meet U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, an Israeli official familiar with the matter said. Netanyahu first wanted to speak to Biden, the official said, and for his security cabinet to convene and agree on an Iran plan. That is expected to take place on Thursday, according to another official.

Gallant has sparred frequently with Netanyahu about the handling of the war on Hamas and other fronts.

During his call with the U.S. President, the Israeli leader is expected to outline plans for Israel’s retaliation, which could be imminent. Netanyahu and Gallant’s spokespeople didn’t immediately comment.

Netanyahu says Iran made “a big mistake” in firing at Israel. The attack caused little damage, with one fatality in the West Bank, but some air bases were hit and millions of Israelis were forced into shelters.

Meanwhile, Israel is stepping up its campaign in Lebanon against Hezbollah. The military has announced a fourth division would be sent into the south of the country — a division usually contains 5,000 to 10,000 troops — and targeted the group with persistent bombing raids. The Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday 185 military targets have been attacked in the past day.

Netanyahu called for Lebanese people to “take your country back” from Hezbollah, which is also a political party with substantial support among Shiite Muslims.

“You have an opportunity to save Lebanon before it falls into the abyss of a long war that will lead to destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza,” the Israeli prime minister said.

Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qasem said Tuesday that the group supports efforts for a cease-fire with Israel, without naming a longstanding pre-condition of a truce in Gaza. Still, Israeli demands for the pullback of Hezbollah to the Litani River, which lies about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the border, are likely to be unacceptable. The U.S. voiced support for the Hezbollah withdrawal, which was required under a United Nations Security Council resolution ending a 2006 war but never implemented.

“The situation on the ground has changed over the past few weeks, and Hezbollah’s leadership has been degraded,” Matthew Miller, spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said in a briefing. “What we want to see come out of this new situation is the ultimate implementation” of the UN resolution, he said.

The attacks — which Netanyahu says are necessary because diplomatic efforts failed to stop Hezbollah striking Israel — have devastated much of southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut, the capital. More than 1,500 people, including many civilians and children, have been killed by strikes in recent weeks, according to Lebanese officials.

Around one million people have been displaced and thousands are fleeing to neighboring Syria, itself still in a state of civil war. Tens of thousands of Israelis have been relocated from the north of the country due to the threat from Hezbollah.

The U.S. and many other countries consider Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist organizations.

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(With assistance from Dana Khraiche and Sam Dagher.)