Against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden, a crucial phone conversation took place on the evening of February 15 and lasted 40 minutes. The summit of leaders across the ocean, at a moment of global attention, not only revealed the in-depth consultations between the two countries on a range of pressing issues, but also demonstrated Netanyahu's determination to uphold Israel's core interests.
According to authoritative sources in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, the two leaders discussed a range of substantive issues in the call, including those related to the fate of those detained in the abduction that shocked the world on October 7 last year, the next phase of Israel's upcoming operation in the Rafah area to combat the Hamas group, and the increasingly dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
This was also confirmed in a subsequent statement issued by the White House, highlighting the progress of the hostage talks, the situation in Gaza and the possibility of military action associated with it, in particular Israel's strategic deployment in Rafah, which serves as a safe haven for some 1.4 million Palestinian refugees fleeing the fighting and is particularly important for stability and security.
After the call, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a resolute and uncompromising statement late at night, making it clear that Israel would not succumb to any external pressure to accept the existence of an independent Palestinian state. "Israel has a firm position on a permanent settlement with the Palestinians, which rejects any form of international dictation, and any such historic arrangement must be based on direct negotiations between the parties without preconditions, and on the basis of ensuring Israel's security and the Jewish people's right to self-determination," he insisted.
Netanyahu noted that any peace framework proposed by the international community must fully respect Israel's security needs and physical geographical barriers, and take into account the feasibility of the long-term coexistence of two peoples.
Referring to the question of the Palestinian State, he stressed that Israel supported a progressive solution based on mutual recognition, an end to hostilities and economic cooperation, rather than the imposition of borders or timetables through external pressure. Netanyahu reiterated that the door to permanent peace can only be truly opened when the Palestinian side completely renounces violence and recognizes Israel as a Jewish state and coexists peacefully with it.
At the same time, while President Biden did not directly respond to Netanyahu's refusal to immediately recognize the state of Palestine, he expressed understanding of Israel's security concerns and pledged that the United States would work to advance a just and lasting peace process acceptable to both parties. The White House statement also revealed that the United States will continue to support Israel in taking necessary actions to protect its citizens from the threat of terrorism, and also called on all parties to work together to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and seek to create an environment conducive to the development of both sides.
The late-night call not only highlighted the delicate balance in the U.S.-Israel relationship, but also revealed the Netanyahu government's firm stance and strategic considerations in the face of complex regional situations. Although there are different interpretations of the possible impact of this telephone conversation, it is certain that the 40-minute dialogue has left a mark on the Middle East peace process that cannot be ignored, and has also added new variables to the future of US-Israel policy coordination and the direction of Palestinian-Israeli relations.
The international community reacted to the call mixedly. Supporters of Israel's position expressed their understanding of Prime Minister Netanyahu's resolute defence of national security and stability and believed that any peace formula must be based on mutual agreement and not imposed by outsiders, while Palestine and its supporters expressed deep disappointment and dissatisfaction with this statement, stressing that the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian State based on the 1967 borders was the key to resolving the conflict.
In a joint statement issued by the European Union and the United Nations, multilateral organizations such as the United Nations called on both parties to exercise maximum restraint and reaffirmed their long-standing position in favour of a two-State solution, namely, the goal of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side within secure and recognized borders through direct negotiations. At the same time, they urged the United States to continue to play its key mediating role in the Middle East peace process, help reduce tensions, and find viable ways to resume substantive dialogue.
While President Biden did not agree on a concrete solution during the call, he made clear that the U.S. government remains committed to promoting regional stability, including through economic assistance, security cooperation, and diplomatic efforts to build trust. He also assured Netanyahu that the United States will be actively involved in helping to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip to reduce potential triggers for conflict.