US President Joe Biden stepped in to stop Israel from striking Hezbollah in Lebanon, it has been reported.
Israel has planned to “preemptively” strike the terror group four days after Hamas carried out the October 7 attack.
However, Mr Biden persuaded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to follow through with the attack, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The report says that “Israel had intelligence — which the US deemed unreliable — that Hezbollah attackers were preparing to cross the border as part of a multipronged attack.”
It added: “Israeli warplanes were in the air awaiting orders when Biden spoke to Netanyahu on October 11, and told the Israeli prime minister to stand down and think through the consequences of such an action.”
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Mr Biden has provided Israel with military and diplomatic support since the conflict with Hamas ramped up following October 7.
However, Mr Biden warned Israel last week that its “indiscriminate bombing” in Gaza was costing the country support around the globe.
He said Mr Netanyahu is “a good friend, but I think he has to change, and… This government in Israel is making it very difficult for him to move.”
He added: “They not only want to have retribution — which they should — for what Hamas did, but against all Palestinians… They don’t want anything to with the Palestinians.
“They still want to do it, but we have to make sure that Bibi understands that he’s got to make some moves to strengthen the [PA].
“You cannot say there’s no Palestinian state at all in the future.
“We have to work toward bringing Israel together in a way that provides for the beginning of… a two-state solution.”
Mr Netanyahu has remained determined to continue the assault on Gaza despite the civilian death toll surpassing 20,000.
Despite Mr Biden’s recent comments, Mr Netanyahu thanked the US President on Saturday for standing with Israel and helping tone down language on a resolution to expedite humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in Gaza.
The United Nations Security Council approved the motion in a 13-0 vote on Friday. However, the text did not call for a ceasefire – a detail that was important to Israel.
The resolution called “for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip and also demanded the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”
Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan lauded the fact that “the resolution maintains Israel’s security authority to monitor and inspect aid entering Gaza.”
Mr Biden has provided Israel with military and diplomatic support since the conflict with Hamas ramped up following October 7.
However, Mr Biden warned Israel last week that its “indiscriminate bombing” in Gaza was costing the country support around the globe.
He said Mr Netanyahu is “a good friend, but I think he has to change, and… This government in Israel is making it very difficult for him to move.”
He added: “They not only want to have retribution — which they should — for what Hamas did, but against all Palestinians… They don’t want anything to with the Palestinians.
“They still want to do it, but we have to make sure that Bibi understands that he’s got to make some moves to strengthen the [PA].
“You cannot say there’s no Palestinian state at all in the future.
“We have to work toward bringing Israel together in a way that provides for the beginning of… a two-state solution.”
Mr Netanyahu has remained determined to continue the assault on Gaza despite the civilian death toll surpassing 20,000.
Despite Mr Biden’s recent comments, Mr Netanyahu thanked the US President on Saturday for standing with Israel and helping tone down language on a resolution to expedite humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in Gaza.
The United Nations Security Council approved the motion in a 13-0 vote on Friday. However, the text did not call for a ceasefire – a detail that was important to Israel.
The resolution called “for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip and also demanded the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”
Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan lauded the fact that “the resolution maintains Israel’s security authority to monitor and inspect aid entering Gaza.”
