Gallant: Netanyahu approved my US trip, then nixed it; PM’s associates: Visit was never okayed

After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly delayed a key visit to Washington by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant until the premier could speak to US President Joe Biden, Gallant’s office puts out a statement stressing that his trip had been approved by Netanyahu before he postponed it — something the prime minister’s team denies.

“Last week, [US] Defense Secretary [Lloyd] Austin invited the defense minister for a professional visit to the US,” says Gallant’s office, as Israel prepares to respond to last week’s Iranian ballistic missile attack. “The defense minister updated the prime minister about the invitation, and the two agreed that the minister would prepare to fly on Tuesday night after security meetings were held.”

Gallant’s office says that at Netanyahu’s request, the defense minister “delayed his trip last night until after the prime minister’s diplomatic conversation with the US president.”

“The defense minister is a representative of Israel and the prime minister,” Gallant’s office stresses, “and every official trip is undertaken only after official approval.”

Officials close to Netanyahu say that the prime minister didn’t cancel any trip, since he never approved it, the Kan public broadcaster reports. “Minister Gallant chose to fly of his own volition,” they say.