Netanyahu blocks Gallant’s trip to Washington

OCCUPIED PALESTINE, Oct. 09 (YPA) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blocked his Defense Minister, Yoav Galant, from traveling to Washington for a planned trip to discuss the Israeli attack on Iran, imposing two conditions, Axios reported.

According to Israeli officials, Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant postponed his visit to Washington, DC after it was vetoed at the last minute by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Gallant’s trip, which was planned for Wednesday, was supposed to focus on coordination with the U.S. around Israel’s possible retaliatory attack against Iran.

According to the report, Netanyahu’s move to block the trip is another sign of the tension between him and his minister of defense, who he tried to fire twice in the past two years.

It’s also another indication of the deep distrust between Netanyahu and the Biden administration.

On Tuesday evening, Netanyahu notified Gallant that his trip wouldn’t be approved until the prime minister receives a phone call with President Biden and until the Israeli security cabinet approves the response to Iran’s missile attack, Israeli officials said.

Axios reported that the Prime Minister’s Office said that there was no point in Gallant’s trip to Washington, DC without an official and clear decision about the nature of the retaliation against Iran.

@E.Y.M