Israel’s allies on Monday strongly urged it not to respond to Iran over the weekend missile and drone attack, calling instead for a de-escalation of the tensions that have gripped the Middle East.
The Iranian airstrike – itself in retaliation for a strike that killed Iranian commanders in Syria – was the first time Tehran had launched open attacks against Israel from its own soil. As some far-right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government called for a strong response, the United States, the Group of 7 nations, the European Union and the UN secretary general were among those advising restraint.
Mr. Netanyahu’s administration faces a delicate balancing act: how to respond to Iran without appearing weak while not alienating the Biden administration and other allies who are already impatient with Israel’s conduct in the Gaza war. While the United States, Britain and France strongly condemned Iran’s actions and immediately came to the defense of Israel to help deter Tehran’s incursions, their calls for restraint underscored the intense pressure Israel was under to avoid igniting a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken stressed the need to prevent further escalation in a flurry of talks Sunday with his counterparts in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, Britain and Germany, according to State Department statements. Britain’s foreign secretary, David Cameron, called the Iranian attack – which included hundreds of missiles and drones, almost all of which were intercepted – “reckless and dangerous” but a “total failure”.
“We urge them not to escalate,” Mr Cameron told Sky News, referring to Israel. “This is the time to think with your head as well as your heart. Be smart as well as tough.”
His German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, went a little further. Asked at a press conference on Monday whether Israel had the right to strike back, Ms Baerbock said that “the right to self-defense means to repel an attack. Retaliation is not a category of international law,” the Associated Press reported.
“Israel won defensively,” he said, adding that “it is now important to secure this defensive victory diplomatically.”
French President Emmanuel Macron also urged Israel to avoid a military escalation. He told French media on Monday that France would work with allies to continue isolating Tehran by “increasing sanctions, increasing pressure on nuclear activities and then finding a path to peace in the region.”
The European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council was due to meet on Tuesday to discuss ways to calm the conflict and protect regional security, EU spokesman Peter Stano told reporters, adding that “regional escalation will not benefit anyone.” .
Iranian officials signaled on Sunday that they sought to prevent further escalation and that Iran’s retaliation was over if Israel did not respond. On Sunday afternoon, Israel’s war cabinet met without deciding how to respond to Iran’s attack, an official briefed on the meeting said. The cabinet was scheduled to meet again on Monday evening, Israeli media reported.
Lara Jakes contributed reporting from Rome.
