- Netanyahu asserts Israel’s autonomy in response to Iranian attack
- Western allies urge Israel for measured response, sanctions on Iran
- UK foreign secretary emphasizes moderation, aid access, and hostage release
Lord Cameron, the foreign secretary of the United Kingdom, was informed by Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel would “make its own decisions” regarding its response to an Iranian attack.
During negotiations that the British government had hoped would prevent an escalation, he declared that his government would “do whatever was necessary to defend itself.”
Mr Netanyahu has pledged retaliation on multiple occasions in response to the weekend’s unprecedented missile and drone assault.
Lord Cameron advised him to keep his response “smart” and to the point.
Lord Cameron told reporters in Jerusalem after he met with Mr Netanyahu that his purpose for being there was to “establish our solidarity” in the wake of Iran’s “horrendous” attack.
“We hope that anything Israel does is as limited, targeted, and intelligent as possible,” he continued.
Escalation serves no one’s interests, and we have made this point abundantly apparent to everyone with whom I’ve had conversations in Israel.
The Israeli prime minister stated following the meeting, “I want to make one thing clear: the State of Israel will do everything necessary to defend itself, and we will make our own decisions.”
Western capitals will be further convinced by Mr Netanyahu’s statements that Israel is determined to intervene against Iran and that they can no longer demand restraint.
Israel is well aware of the apprehensions that the United States and Europe have regarding the escalation of the war in the region.
However, western leaders may find solace in the fact that Israeli leaders are attempting to capitalise on the diplomatic support they have received in the wake of Iran’s attacks. This suggests that Mr Netanyahu is unlikely to escalate his retaliatory actions to the point where they escalate the strategic alliance and spark a full-scale war in the region.
To prevent this, several Western foreign ministers, including Lord Cameron, are scheduled to visit Israel in the coming days on a diplomatic mission.
Lord Cameron conferred with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz before meeting with Mr. Netanyahu.
The foreign secretary of the United Kingdom also intends to meet with the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, Mohammad Mustafa, in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Lord Cameron is scheduled to attend a G7 ministerial meeting in Italy, where he will advocate for implementing coordinated sanctions against Iran.
In the past, he levelled allegations against Tehran, attributing much of the “malign activity” in the Middle East to it, and urged other nations to enact policies aimed at limiting Iran’s influence.
Israel is urging its allies to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a significant military, political, and economic force in Iran, as a terrorist organisation. The European Union and the United States are contemplating additional sanctions.
Following an unprecedented direct assault by Iran overnight on Saturday, which involved the deployment of over 300 drones and missiles towards Israel, the Israeli government has issued a series of threats of retaliation.
With assistance from the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Jordan, Israel’s air defence systems intercepted nearly all projectiles.
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Iran launched its direct assault on Israel on April 1 in retaliation for an attack in Syria that claimed the lives of senior Iranian military personnel. Although Israel has not explicitly denied responsibility for the assault in public, it is widely speculated that it was.
On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom warned Mr Netanyahu that “substantial escalation will only exacerbate instability in the region” and that “calm heads should prevail now.”
During his diplomatic visit to Israel, Lord Cameron will attempt to bolster Mr Sunak’s admonition for moderation and increase the pressure on Israeli leaders to do more to permit humanitarian aid into Gaza. However, he is treading a fine line.
The foreign secretary will prefer to avoid giving the impression of reprimanding an ally whose territory has recently experienced an unprecedented assault.
Lord Cameron further emphasises the necessity for Hamas to liberate hostages and the significance of additional sanctions being imposed by Western powers on Iran.
In addition to showing solidarity and support, his presence in Jerusalem is an attempt to warn Israeli leadership that a protracted conflict would be detrimental to their and the international community’s interests.
