Biden also reportedly told Netanyahu, “Don’t take the president for granted.”
This comment was made in the context of Israeli-American cooperation in a potential all-out war with Iran and its proxies.
Channel 12 news did not cite its sources for the report about the exchange between Biden and Netanyahu.
Netanyahu’s office responded to the report, stating that the prime minister does not comment on the content of his private discussions with the US president. The statement from Netanyahu’s office also noted that the premier “does not intervene in American politics and will work with whoever is elected president, and expects the Americans to also not intervene in Israeli politics.”
Tensions have been high as Iran and its allied groups vowed revenge for the recent killing of several terror chiefs. Biden has worked to gather regional powers to help fend off Iran’s missile-and-drone strike on Israel that occurred on the night of April 13-14.The call comes following the assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah senior general Fuad Shukr in Beirut.Netanyahu’s government has not commented on the slaying of Haniyeh in Tehran, but the Palestinian militant group has blamed Israel.
Iran has vowed to avenge the killing.
Hamas’s armed wing said the death of Haniyeh, who was widely viewed as the group’s overall leader, would take the battle with Israel to new dimensions and have major repercussions.
The group attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people. Since the attack, Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas.
Hours before Haniyeh was targeted, Israel said it had killed senior Hezbollah leader Shukr in Beirut.
With inputs from PTI