UK urges Israel to show restraint as war cabinet draws up response to Iran

News Desk - The Cradle

Other officials including France’s president and the EU foreign policy chief have called for de-escalation

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron reinforced US concerns on 15 April and urged Israel not to respond to Iran’s Operation True Promise, which saw hundreds of drones and missiles attack Israeli targets two days earlier. 

“I think they’re perfectly justified to think they should respond because they have been attacked, but we are urging them as friends to think with head as well as heart, to be smart as well as tough,” Cameron said. 

“We should first of all reflect that this was a pretty significant attack … But I think we’re very anxious to avoid escalation.” 

The British advice to Israel comes as Washington has reportedly been warning of the “catastrophic” consequences of an escalation, and has called on Israel to exercise restraint. French President Emmanuel Macron also called for avoiding escalation on Monday, as well as EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

Israel is reportedly set on responding to Operation True Promise. However, Hebrew media said that officials are disputing when and how a response should be carried out. 

The Israeli war cabinet suspended an hours-long debate on the matter on Sunday, after not being able to reach a decision. According to Hebrew Channel 12, the deliberations will resume soon. 

An Israeli official told Hebrew newspaper Israel Hayom that “There will be a response.” US news network NBC also cited an Israeli official as saying that “the IDF will need to present options” but that “it is clear that Israel will respond.” 

Israeli officials cited by Reuters said that the war cabinet is in favor of responding, but is divided over its scale and when it should be done. 

National Unity leader Benny Gantz and his fellow party member Gadi Eisenkot had proposed hitting Iran as the drone and missile attacks were taking place, according to several Hebrew reports. This was vehemently opposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, army chief Herzi Halevi, and other officials, Channel 12 said. 

Yet Netanyahu’s office said that “the opposite was true.”

An official also confirmed to CNN that Israel will respond, but is considering whether to “break all the dishes” or carry out a limited and measured strike. 

Iran has vowed to attack with “ten times” the force if Israel escalates the situation. 

“The Zionist regime must bear in mind that any action against Iran, either on the Iranian soil or against centers belonging to Iran in Syria or any other country, will trigger a new and more immense operation,” Iran’s army chief, Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, said on Sunday morning.