It lasted 50 minutes.. A call between Netanyahu and Biden to discuss the plan to respond to Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone call with US President Joe Biden on Wednesday, amid anticipation of an Israeli attack on Iran in response to the latter's strikes against Israel last week.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently holding a phone conversation with US President Joe Biden, from the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem," Netanyahu's office said in a statement, without giving further details. Vice President Kamala Harris joined the call, according to Axios.

He added that the call discussed plans to respond to Iran. The Israel Hayom website reported that the call between them lasted about 50 minutes, and was the first since last August.

Earlier, the American website Axios reported that the call between Biden and Netanyahu would address Israel’s plans to attack Iran. Two Israeli officials confirmed to the website that the latter spent long hours on Tuesday evening with ministers and heads of the military and intelligence services in Israel trying to decide on the scope and timing of Israeli attacks.

Israeli officials told Axios that Israel's response is expected to be significant, and will likely include a combination of airstrikes on military targets in Iran and covert attacks.

Netanyahu decided on Tuesday evening to prevent Defense Minister Yoav Galant from traveling to Washington on Wednesday to meet with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other US officials, before President Joe Biden contacts him.

Channel 12, which reported the news, reported that Netanyahu spoke to Galant and informed him that he does not agree at this stage to his visit to Washington, and that he must wait for his call with Biden and the approval of the Ministerial Council for Political and Security Affairs (the cabinet) regarding the Israeli military operation against Iran.

Netanyahu's office explained that the talk was about a correct arrangement of procedures, and there was no benefit in the Defense Minister's visit as long as an official and clear Israeli decision had not been made regarding the upcoming security operations, which should be mediated with the Americans.

Source: Al-Araby Al-Jadeed