Washington, 10 October 2024 (dpa/MIA) -- US President Joe Biden has spoken on the telephone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time in almost two months.

Vice President Kamala Harris also took part in the conversation, the White House said in Washington on Wednesday.

"This morning, President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel," the White House said in a statement. "A readout of the call will be released soon."

It was the first one-on-one conversation between Biden and Netanyahu since the end of August.

Israel is currently discussing how to respond to the recent Iranian missile attack, which the United States helped to avert. Biden said last week that he would not support an Israeli retaliatory strike on nuclear targets.

Relations between Washington and Tel Aviv are currently strained, mainly due to the conduct of the Israeli military, which has met with criticism in parts of the US.

Opponents of American arms deliveries to Israel fear that these will further fuel tensions and make peaceful solutions more difficult.

The US government says it is working to de-escalate the situation, while repeatedly emphasizing Israel's right to defend itself. It argues the same way when it comes to arms deliveries.

The debate is also gaining importance in the run-up to the presidential election. For some voters, the candidates' position on the issue plays a central role.