Pentagon says Gallant’s US trip postponed, after Netanyahu set last-minute demands

The Defense Ministry has informed the Pentagon that it is postponing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s trip to the US where he had been scheduled to meet tomorrow with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, a US Defense Department spokesperson announces.

Gallant was supposed to fly in the next few hours.

The confirmation follows reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been blocking Gallant’s visit because he wants to first speak with Biden about Israel’s planned retaliation against Iran, and wants the security cabinet to first approve the planned response. The two leaders haven’t spoken in nearly fifty days amid growing frustration in Washington with Netanyahu’s handling of the war and perceived lack of strategy for how to bring it to an end.