‘Biden slow to call Netanyahu over snub of Obama nuclear deal’

Yadlin, who is now executive director of Tel Aviv University’s Institute of National Security Studies and an expert on Israeli-US relations, says this lack of deaf communication is very different from Netanyahu’s relationship with him. former president Donald Trump, who announced the Prime Minister just three days after entering the White House in January 2017.

“Netanyahu did not like the Democratic Party from his speech to Congress in 2015. This move left a very bitter taste. [with the party’s members], ”Said Yadlin.

“His close relationship with Trump has also led to hostility from the Democratic Party, which is led today by the‘ everything but Trump ’approach,” Yadlin adds.

“Netanyahu’s cold shoulder is largely coming from his friendship with the last two presidents.”

It is important to note, Yadlin says, that the Democrats’ hostility to Netanyahu is not the only reason for the current lack of communication between the two leaders.

“When Biden entered the White House, he had major problems, especially at home,” Yadlin says.

“The only problem that concerns both American parties is China, and Russia and North Korea in close proximity. The Middle East is at the bottom of the list and the Iranians know it, which is why they are continuing with their nuclear program. “

While Israel does not appear to be a priority for the new administration, Yadlin confirms that Biden and those under him are famous allies of Israel.

“[Biden] he has a unique history of voting for Israel, he is a personal friend to many people in Israel, ”says Yadlin.

“I also know the new leaders of the government, whether it is Secretary of State Tony Blinken, National Security Adviser Jack Sullivan, or Bill Burns who has been named the head of the CIA. They all have good ties to Israel, even though we have particular disagreements regarding Iran and the Palestinians. “

As for the nuclear deal with Iran, Yadlin says he believes Biden fully intends to return to the agreement agreed with Trump in 2018.

“It is [Biden’s] The strategic goal is to resume diplomatic moves that would see the U.S. return to the nuclear deal that many in the Biden administration have worked on and supported, ”Yadlin said.

“On the other hand, these same people understand that there were a number of cracks in the agreement, some of which were marked by [Netanyahu] and other Israeli officials, although some were named by Arab countries. That is the culprit [the Biden Administration] they would like to return to the agreement and change. “

Yadlin says the U.S. could even sign an interim agreement with Iran.

“Right now there are three approaches,” he says. “The first progressive approach in Washington would see both sides return to meet their parts of the agreement.

“In the second approach, the United States will not return to the agreement, and Iran is returning to enrichment with just one tonne of uranium instead of the current three, which is lower than the current one. minimum required for a nuclear bomb. In this situation, the Americans would not lift all sanctions on Iran, but would allow Tehran to export oil and release some of their frozen currency, ”Yadlin says.

“The third approach, which Tehran vehemently denies, is that the Americans would lift sanctions in exchange for the Iranians freezing any further progress in their nuclear project.”

According to Yadlin, Biden is very concerned about Israel ‘s security, which gives Israel the freedom to “come out and say that the nuclear deal is a problem.”

He warns, however, that the issue “should not be treated as a second Holocaust as Netanyahu has suggested.”

“I see the glass as half full,” Yadlin says. “Blinken did not reject Israeli claims to the region and did not mention Israel returning to its borders before 1967.”

The Trump Administration, however, formally recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan, captured from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War.

Turning to the Abraham Accords, which saw Israel normalize relations with Arab countries such as the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco, Yadlin says he expects the Biden Administration to follow its previous policies.

“I think there is more continuity between governments than people think. Presidents have similar principles to the Middle East, so there is no risk to agreements, ”says Yadlin.

“I’m hopeful. I think the Saudis were an inch away from signing the boxes and then the pick happened. That’s what they said – if we have to give this benefit to someone, we should give it to Biden, who criticizes us about the war in Yemen, human rights and so on. “