U.S. President Joe Biden did not call Benjamin Netanyahu for more than a month after his inauguration due to the Middle East being moved down his list of priorities, according to Danny Ayalon, Israel’s ambassador to the United States from 2002-2006.
Ayalon, who got to know Joe Biden and his inner circle well during his time in the U.S., says he doesn’t think there was a technical reason why President Netanyahu didn’t call, as he did. it was called by official sources.
“Biden has not called any of the leaders in the Middle East. It appears that the Middle East has been put down on its list of priorities for the United States. The administration has global issues such as climate change to deal with it; The Middle East can wait, ”said Ayalon.
“Nevertheless, as a special ally of the US, Israel has been a special case when it comes to the Middle East issue, which is why it is unusual that Biden did not call Netanyahu so long. “
Ayalon says the reason also lies with Netanyahu’s close ties to Biden’s Republican predecessor.
“I think the special – perhaps too special – relationship that Netanyahu had with Donald Trump is a catching point. Democrats believe it interferes with American political affairs internally, ”said Ayalon.
“It was important for Biden’s administration to announce – not to Israel, but to Netanyahu – that there is a new sheriff in the city who is changing the rules. Netanyahu will not receive the gifts Trump gave him at wholesale. “
Ayalon is convinced that the new administration is a true friend to Israel, especially when it comes to Iran’s nuclear threat.
“Secretary of State Antony Blinken is a great friend. He is Jewish, and his stepmother was a Holocaust survivor. His relationship with Israel will continue in the strongest way. Biden says he’s a real Zionist, so I don’t think there’s any reason to worry, “says Ayalon.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-US President Donald Trump at the White House in 2019
(Photo: EPA)
The former ambassador says that while the Middle East has largely gone away, Iran’s case certainly has priority. Biden has already spoken to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and leaders of world powers involved in the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, which was broken by Barack Obama and abandoned by Trump.
“[Biden’s] The approach is led and rational, and is based on international cooperation and alliances, “Ayalon says.” He is also a very knowledgeable man. He served on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee for 36 years, including several years as chairman of the committee. ”
Ayalon admits that while Biden has agreed to return the U.S. to the 2015 nuclear deal it will not be subject to the terms of the previous treaty.
“Biden himself said so much.” I am now picking up Blinken, not Biden – a return to agreement will not be automatic, a few improvements will be made. The Iranians have first called for the removal of the sanctions and Biden says that the first step for the Iranians is to stop uranium enrichment. From what I understand, there are no connections behind the scenes at the moment, ”said Ayalon.
“I think the new administration learned from the mistakes of the Obama Administration, which spoke to the Iranians behind Israel.” I believe Biden will try to keep Israel in the picture. “
Ayalon said, to better deal with Iran’s case, he would advise Netanyahu to send Israeli officials abroad.
“I would advise the Israeli ambassador to UN to Gilad Erdan along with the Mossad leader to Washington to meet with policy makers such as National Security Adviser Jack Sullivan, Blinken and [incoming] The director of the CIA, William Burns, is preparing a platform on the issue. ”
“I would also urge Netanyahu to give Biden a chance – this is not Obama with complete trust and even sympathy. Biden has a positive vision, we need to give him a chance, ”says Ayalon.
“I would also tell Netanyahu not to discuss the matter in public, and to convey any messages through the usual and confidential channels and wait. We must remember that today ‘s Congress is under Democratic control. That’s why Netanyahu has to work with Biden and his people from an inclusive approach of closeness. “
On the Israel-Palestinian issue, Ayalon says he does not think Biden will try to offer any kind of intervention or solution.
“They’ve been shot before,” he says.
“The Obama administration spent eight years of resources and political reputation on the issue alone without accomplishing anything. Biden was personally shot when in 2010 he was here just as the government decided to extend a settlement in the “West Bank. He, Blinken and the whole team understood that nothing would come out of the Palestinian case.”