It seems that Israel's preparations for the response to Iran after the missile attack it received on October 1 are entering the final stretch.
According to the Washington Post, Benjamin Netanyahu told Joe Biden that Israel's retaliation would not include strikes on civilian areas, assuring the White House occupant that Tel Aviv would avoid meddling in the US election.
According to the publication, this assurance was what "unlocked" Biden's decision to send the THAAD anti-missile system to Israel to become the 4th pillar of Israeli air defense.
There were earlier reports that Israel was considering attacks on Iranian oil infrastructure or nuclear facilities, options to which the US reacted with concern about an escalation of the conflict.
According to an official cited by the Washington Post, Israel's retaliation will be designed to prevent "political interference in the US election."
An attack on oil infrastructure could lead to higher energy prices, while a strike on a nuclear facility could widen the fighting and involve the US. Such a development could be expressed at the ballot box at the expense of vice president and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
American voters unhappy with either outcome could express their displeasure at the ballot box, hurting Democratic US Vice President Kamala Harris and helping Republican Donald Trump.
The Gulf states have also pressed Washington to prevent Israel from attacking Iran's oil facilities because they are concerned that their own oil facilities could come under fire from Tehran's "satellites" if the conflict escalates.
Nevertheless, a statement was issued by Netanyahu's office that Israel's security needs will override any other calculation.
"We are listening to the thoughts of the US government, but we will make our final decisions based on Israel's national security needs," Israel's prime minister's office said.
In this context, an official cited by Axios after the Biden-Netanyahu phone call said that Israel's planned response is still more aggressive than the US would prefer.
Source: protothema.gr
