Gallant was scheduled to meet Wednesday with Austin, but the Pentagon announced Tuesday that the meeting was postponed, without offering any details on why.
“I’m going to stay out of Israeli politics,” said Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh.
Netanyahu did not approve of the trip and told Gallant to cancel it because he wanted to speak with President Biden first, according to several reports.
Biden and Netanyahu have not spoken in some 50 days, despite Israel recently expanding operations into Lebanon against militant group Hezbollah and Iran firing some 180 ballistic missiles against Israel last week.
Netanyahu also reportedly wanted to hold off on Gallant going to Washington while Israel weighs a retaliation strike against Iran.
At the Pentagon, Singh said in-person meetings were important for “deepening” relationships but indicated that Austin can stay in touch with his Israeli counterpart on the phone to discuss developments.
“They remain in constant communication,” she said. “That relationship still maintains and can be done at any time, any place in the world.”
Israeli centrist opposition leader Benny Gantz said in a post on X that Netanyahu’s cancellation was political and personal.
Gantz said the cancellation inflicted “damage to the security of the country at a critical time for our security.”
“A Prime Minister with Israel’s security at the forefront of his mind would send the Minister of Defense,” Gantz wrote.
Read the full report at TheHill.com.
