Signifying that his argument was as ineffective as the points made by his colleagues to their US counterparts, a chastened Lapid said only that he had had “a good conversation” with the Secretary of State. This rounded off a pretty fruitless week for Israel’s drive for support for a proactive policy against Iran. The tactic employed by officials hosting their Israeli visitors was to listen politely to what they had to say, but not to budge an iota on the administration’s overriding objective of bringing the negotiations with Iran to a successful outcome.
A Pentagon denial followed a report by an anonymous US official that the US and Israel were set for a joint air drill over the Mediterranean Sea. at the same distance as Iran, to practice strikes against its nuclear infrastructure. The Pentagon commented drily that joint military exercises were a regular occurrence.
Defense Secretary Austin said about his meeting with Gantz that if current policy regarding Iran fails, US President Joe Biden had made it clear “we are prepared to turn to other options.” Those options were not spelled out, and so Gantz came away empty handed after high hopes for his mission. READ MORE
