PM Benjamin Netanyahu has downplayed the idea that US President Joe Biden was ousting him.
The White House has denied that US President Joe Biden was spouting out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by failing so far in an early round of phone calls to leaders since taking office on January 20th.
The lack of direct communication between the American president and the long-serving Israeli leader has contributed to profitability in Israel and among Middle East analysts that the new administration may reflect -approach over the close ties Netanyahu forged with Biden’s predecessor, former President Donald Trump.
“He is looking forward to speaking with Prime Minister Netanyahu,” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters at a daily meeting when asked on Friday when Biden would call . “I can assure you soon, but I don’t have a specific time or date. “
Asked if the delay in Biden’s court summons meant honoring the Israeli leader, Psaki said: “It is not a deliberate disagreement. Prime Minister Netanyahu is someone the president has known for some time. “
Biden, she said, was “looking forward to talking”.
Being slow?
Israel is one of Washington’s closest allies. Trump and his predecessor, Barack Obama, under which Biden was vice president, spoke with Netanyahu within days of taking office.
Biden has already sent calls to several foreign leaders, including those from China, Mexico, the United Kingdom, India, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea and Russia.
Netanyahu himself has lost the idea that he was weakening it.
While Netanyahu was almost at a gray level with Trump regarding Middle East policy, he could be in a more icy relationship with Biden. Biden has long been regarded in Israel as a friend in Washington but sometimes he and Netanyahu have not seen eye to eye.
Netanyahu will be challenged if Biden renews U.S. involvement in Iran’s nuclear deal that Trump withdrew, promotes Washington’s shattered relations with the Palestinians as promised, and opposes settlement construction Israel on owned land where Palestinians are seeking statehood.
Netanyahu used his connection to Trump in recent elections for his ability to keep the United States in line with his policies. But with Israel ‘s fourth election in two years scheduled for March 23, it may no longer have that political luxury.
No MBS call
Psaki also said no call was planned to Saudi Arabia’s leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).
“Well, of course there is a review of our policy as it applies to Saudi Arabia. I have no planned call that I am aware of, ”she said.
Psaki previously sided with a question as to whether the administration would impose sanctions on Saudi Arabia for the 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi staff at the state consulate in Istanbul.