US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a rare phone call on Wednesday, marking their first conversation in several weeks. The call comes as tensions in the Middle East escalate, with Israel weighing its response to a recent ballistic barrage from Iran.
The two leaders, who have a decades-long history, have seen their relationship strain in recent months. The Israeli government has been grappling with the aftermath of Hamas’s largest terrorist attack, and Biden has publicly expressed reservations about Israel’s potential retaliation against Iran’s nuclear program.
The call included Vice President Kamala Harris, and the conversation is believed to have focused on Israel’s response to Iran’s attack. Israel has yet to retaliate, and officials are discussing the possibility of targeting Iran’s nuclear program and oil facilities, which could lead to a larger conflict.
Biden has stated that he would not support Israel targeting Iran’s nuclear program, but has affirmed the country’s right to retaliate for the missile attack. Meanwhile, Israeli forces are continuing operations in Gaza against Hamas and in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah.
The US has expressed support for Israel’s incursions into southern Lebanon, aimed at degrading Hezbollah’s infrastructure. A State Department spokesman described the operations as a necessary step to counter Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel.
The Biden administration has been working to contain the conflict and avoid a regional war that could draw in the US. However, Israel’s actions have sometimes countered this goal, creating friction with allies.
The tension between Biden and Netanyahu has been highlighted in recent days, with the release of a new book by veteran Washington reporter Bob Woodward. The book quotes Biden as privately describing Netanyahu as “that son of a bitch, Bibi Netanyahu, he’s a bad guy. He’s a bad fucking guy!” in the spring of 2024.
Biden did speak with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday, the anniversary of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack that sparked the war. However, Netanyahu was not included in that conversation, further illustrating the strain in their relationship.
As the situation in the Middle East continues to unfold, the Biden administration is working to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict. However, the deep-seated divisions between the US and Israel, as well as the complex web of alliances and rivalries in the region, make it a challenging task.
