‘Now is a moment for calm heads to prevail. Escalation would be in no one’s interest’
RISHI Sunak has told Benjamin Netanyahu it is “a moment for calm heads to prevail” in Israel’s response to Iran’s missile and drone attack.
The Prime Minister spoke to his counterpart yesterday afternoon after first telling MPs 24 hours earlier that he would speak to him “shortly”.
Israeli media had reported that Mr Netanyahu was refusing to take calls from world leaders seeking to influence the response to Saturday night’s barrage.
After the call, a Downing Street spokesperson said Mr Sunak “reiterated the UK’s steadfast support for Israel’s security and for wider regional stability”.
They added: “Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked the UK for its rapid and robust support in the face of Iran’s reckless and dangerous attack on Saturday.
“The Prime Minister said Iran had badly miscalculated and was increasingly isolated on the global
‘PM was deeply disappointed Hamas blocked a deal’
stage, with the G7 co-ordinating a diplomatic response. He stressed that significant escalation was in no one’s interest and would only deepen insecurity in the Middle East. This was a moment for calm heads to prevail.”
Mr Sunak also told the Israeli prime minister “he remained gravely concerned about the deepening humanitarian crisis” in Gaza.
His spokesperson added: “The UK wanted to see a massive step change in aid access to flood Gaza with vital supplies, including Israel opening up new aid routes as quickly as possible.
“The Prime Minister said it was deeply disappointing Hamas blocked a deal at the weekend that would have saved Palestinian lives and secured the safe release of hostages.”
Responding to questions about the delay to the call, Downing Street denied the UK – which supplied RAF jets to help thwart Iran’s attack – was being “taken for granted” by Israel and suggested Mr Netanyahu’s commitments meant a call had not been possible.
The PM’s official spokesperson added: “The Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary have been speaking to their counterparts.”
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron, who is reportedly set to visit Israel soon, has urged Tel Aviv to be “smart as well as tough” by not escalating the conflict with Iran.
The Islamic republic launched 350 drones and missiles at Israel in retaliation for a strike on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria earlier this month.
Most were intercepted before they could reach their targets, with British jets shooting down a number of attack drones.
Israel has declared the barrage “will be met with a response” but is still finalising it.
Mr Netanyahu issued a statement saying that he “deeply appreciates the support of the United States, Britain, France and others in thwarting the Iranian attack against Israel”.
He added: “Directly and through its terror proxies Hamas and others, Iran is conducting a full-scale campaign of aggression that threatens not only Israel but the entire Middle East. The international community must continue to stand united in resisting this aggression, which threatens world peace.”
Lord Cameron, who updated fellow peers yesterday, said Britain is discussing fresh sanctions on Iran with allies, adding: “We have sanctioned hundreds of people in Iran, we’ve sanctioned the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) in its entirety.We will be discussing with the French and others further steps we can take.
“We also need to look at the work we do at the International Atomic Energy Authority, where we need to have clear resolutions where Iran is in breach of promises it’s made. When you look at this region, who is funding Hamas? Who is funding the Houthis? Who is funding Hezbollah? In every case, the answer is Iran.”
The US is planning to impose new sanctions on Iran “in the coming days”. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said oil exports “remain a possible area” they could address.
She added: “Iran’s actions threaten the region’s stability and could cause economic spillovers.”
Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace urged the Government to use its defence of Israel as leverage to secure its support for Ukraine.
He said Israel has been “absent” from the list of countries donating weapons and has “pleaded” with the country’s ambassador. But he was told Israel “didn’t want to upset Russia”. Mr Wallace said: “If pilots of the RAF are to help protect Israel then we should expect Israel to help Ukraine with lethal weapons and other assets, because alliances work both ways.”