Netanyahu instructs his defence minister to stay and not travel to the U.S., sources says.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant not to travel to the United States tonight, where he was supposed to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday, according to an Israeli official.

The Israeli defense ministry has been contacted for a comment.

Benny Gantz, a member of the Israeli war cabinet, criticized the decision to cancel the trip, arguing that it “harms” the nation’s security.

“A prime minister who truly values Israel’s security would send the defense minister, coordinate messages with him, and make the ‘Wing of Zion’ plane available for his prompt return to Israel,” Gantz remarked.