U.S. Defense Secretary Abruptly Cancels Israel Visit; Netanyahu Says He Is Not Disappointed

Amid a resurgence of armed conflict between the United States and Iran, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has abruptly canceled his planned visit to Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that the sudden cancellation of the Secretary's visit could actually be a positive sign, drawing attention to the underlying reasons.

In a podcast interview on July 9 (local time) with Sharon Gal, a journalist and former right-wing Knesset (parliament) member, Prime Minister Netanyahu revealed that Secretary Hegseth received an urgent recall to the White House from the NATO summit site ahead of their scheduled meeting.

While Prime Minister Netanyahu remained tight-lipped about the specific purpose of the visit or the reasons for the cancellation, he insisted that the decision was by no means a negative development for Israel.

When asked if he was disappointed by the cancellation, he retorted, "Why do you think I would be disappointed? Could there not be other meanings behind it?"

When pressed for details, he left room for interpretation, stating, "I cannot say right now," but added, "There are several possibilities here."

Secretary Hegseth's cancellation comes as armed conflict between the U.S. and Iran has reignited over issues in the Strait of Hormuz, and amid speculation that the U.S. may sell F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey.

Israel has been extremely wary of moves toward peace negotiations between the Trump administration and Iran.

Therefore, the current situation, where the dialogue between the U.S. and Iran could collapse and shift toward a direct confrontation, aligns with Israel's strategic goal of neutralizing the Iranian regime's military power and weakening its influence.

Consequently, cautious speculation is emerging that the urgent shift in the White House's stance, which turned Secretary Hegseth away, may be a signal that the U.S. intends to increase the intensity of its military operations against Iran.

(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.