Israel doesn’t generally hold back. 

So, in the wake of the attack on Israel from Iran with drones and missiles on Saturday, you might have supposed that there would be an immediate response from Israel. 

But as we reported, that’s when the Biden team intervened. Joe Biden allegedly had a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to tell them not to respond, to say that they should “take the win” from the successful defense against the more than 300 missiles and drones. Basically, let Iran attack them and don’t respond. 

Read: Biden Tells Bibi No US Offensive Action, US Dinging Israel Behind Scenes

Now, it’s being reported that that the call did stop a retaliatory strike, at least for the moment. 

Israel’s decision to retaliate early Sunday morning against Iran’s massive attack was halted after a phone call between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden. US officials considered Israel’s interception of more than 300 drones and missiles as a significant strategic victory that should not necessitate further retaliation, The New York Times reported, citing US officials.

The Biden administration advised Israel to exercise caution and avoid further escalation in the Middle East following its successful defense against Iranian airstrikes. [….]

A retaliatory strike initially proposed by cabinet members was called off following a phone call between Netanyahu and Biden on Saturday. This decision came in light of the relatively minor damage caused by Iran’s attacks. The specifics of the conversation between Biden and Netanyahu were not disclosed by officials.

But the war cabinet still met to consider a response. Reportedly, there’s a split on the timing and the proportion of the proposed action, but the majority favors a response.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently convening the War Cabinet at the Kirya in Tel Aviv. pic.twitter.com/VUObde4h7o

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 14, 2024

The five-member cabinet, in which Benjamin Netanyahu, defence minister Yoav Gallant and cabinet minister Benny Gantz have decision-making powers, met earlier today to discuss the attack – which saw over 330 missiles and drones fired at Israel. This echoes what an Israeli source indicated earlier – that the war cabinet had decided it would respond to Iran’s attack, but no final decisions have been made on the detail. “It is clear Israel will respond, the question is when and at what scale,” an Israeli official told our partner network NBC News  

One of the war cabinet ministers, Benny Gantz, said they would exact a price from Iran. 

War Cabinet Minister @gantzbe said that Israel “will build a regional coalition and collect the price from Iran” in response to Iran’s unprecedented attack.

Latest: https://t.co/m8H6bTQnfT pic.twitter.com/Q1V1D18f1V

— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 14, 2024

So, we shall have to see what the response is. But it doesn’t sound like Biden was fully able to stop a response.

READ MORE:

Don’t, Don’t, Don’t

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Official Statement From Biden Regarding Iran Attack on Israel