Mossad Chief Arrives in Washington
Ronen Manlev, the director of Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad, arrived in Washington on Friday to hold discussions with top officials in President Donald Trump’s administration concerning the conflict with Iran. According to three sources familiar with the matter cited by Axios, the visit occurs amidst intense pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging Washington to resume military operations against Tehran.
Manlev, who is considered a close ally of Netanyahu, is scheduled to meet with John Ratcliffe, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). One source indicated that Manlev might also travel to Miami to meet Steve Witkoff, the White House envoy.
Divergent Strategies on Iran
These diplomatic maneuvers take place at a time when Trump has not yet responded to Netanyahu’s demands to restart combat operations. During a phone call on November 5, the two leaders discussed the Iranian file, according to a US official. Rather than returning to direct military confrontation, Trump has opted to continue naval blockades and economic pressures on Iran, coordinating with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates while keeping the door open for a potential agreement.
Trump stated on Thursday that he possesses the capability to end the situation immediately but clarified that nations seeking protection from Washington have requested an extension of these measures. He noted that Saudi Arabia asked him to “leave things as they are for a while,” while Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, and Bahrain prefer to wait.
Political Turmoil in Israel
The developments coincide with instability in Israel’s political landscape following the October 27 elections, which resulted in Netanyahu losing his parliamentary majority. His rival, Gadi Eisenkot, received a mandate to form a new government, although uncertainty remains regarding his ability to complete the task.
Sources told Axios that leaders within the Israeli opposition fear Netanyahu may launch an attack on Iran or provoke it into attacking Israel. Such a move could be an attempt to disrupt Eisenkot’s efforts to form a government and derail the transition of power, potentially leading to Netanyahu’s removal from office if those efforts succeed.
Netanyahu met with Eisenkot on Thursday for a two-hour meeting where he briefed him on developments related to Iran. A source close to Eisenkot stated that he does not believe current conditions warrant immediate military action against Tehran.
