Israel’s European allies on Monday urged Israel to show restraint in the face of Iran’s missile and drone attack over the weekend, and called on Israeli leaders to step back from the “cliff edge” in the face of escalating tensions in the East. Unprecedented medium.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet, which is empowered to decide on the country’s response, will meet on Monday afternoon, a government source said.
Israeli officials said the war cabinet, which also met on Sunday, was in favor of undertaking retaliation but was divided over the timing and scale of this response.
With the danger of an open war breaking out between Israel and Iran, and tensions high over the war in Gaza, President Joe Biden has told Netanyahu that the United States will not participate in any Israeli counteroffensive against Iran, US officials said.
Britain, France, Germany and the European Union’s foreign policy chief joined Washington and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in calling for restraint.
“We are on the edge of the precipice and we have to move away from it,” Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, told Spanish radio station Onda Cero. “We have to hit the brakes and reverse.”
French President Emmanuel Macron urged Israel to focus on isolating Iran rather than aggravating the situation. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned Iran against carrying out further attacks and said Israel must also contribute to reducing tension.
For its part, Russia has refrained from publicly criticizing its ally Iran for the attacks, but on Monday expressed concern about the risk of escalation and also called for restraint. “Further escalation benefits no one,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov.
Iran launched Sunday’s attack following a suspected Israeli airstrike on its embassy compound in Syria on April 1 that killed seven Iranian Revolutionary Guard officers, including two senior commanders.
The unprecedented aggression occurred after months of clashes between Israel and Iran’s regional allies, triggered by the Israeli war in Gaza.
The weekend attack, which used more than 300 missiles and drones, caused only minor damage in Israel. The vast majority were shot down by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system and with the help of the United States, Great Britain, France and Jordan. The only serious injury reported in Israel was that of a seven-year-old boy who was injured by shrapnel.
While waiting for a possible Israeli response, international uncertainty is growing. Asian stocks fell and gold prices rose on Monday on risk sentiment, but oil prices fell and Israel’s shekel rose against the dollar. “Clearly there is still a lot of uncertainty and it all depends on how Israel responds now,” said Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at ING.
Iran’s attack also caused travel disruptions, with at least a dozen airlines canceling or diverting flights, and Europe’s aviation regulator reaffirmed advice to airlines to exercise caution in Israeli and Iranian airspace.
Regarding what type of response Israel will employ, two senior Israeli ministers have indicated that retaliation will not be imminent and that Israel will not act alone. “We will build a regional coalition and exact the price from Iran in the way and at the time that is right for us,” said centrist Minister Benny Gantz.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel had the opportunity to form a strategic alliance “against this serious threat from Iran.”
Israel remains on high alert, although authorities have lifted some emergency measures that included a ban on some school activities and limits on large gatherings.
Iranian Army Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri warned Israel not to retaliate and told Washington that U.S. bases could be attacked if it helps Israel do so.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said Tehran had informed the United States that the attack on Israel would be limited and in self-defense, and that regional neighbors had been informed of the planned attacks 72 hours in advance.
However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Monday that no prearranged agreement had been reached with any country before the weekend attack. US officials told Reuters that Tehran had not warned Washington.
