Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the existence of disputes with the new U.S. administration regarding the Iranian and Palestinian issues.
Israeli Channel 12 reported today, Monday, that Netanyahu stated, "There is much that unites us with the U.S. administration... and there are disagreements concerning the Iranian and Palestinian issues... I am determined to preserve Israel's interests." Netanyahu noted that he does not feel uncomfortable about not receiving a phone call from President Joe Biden up to this point, saying, "I am not bothered by the absence of a call from the American president since he took office; our relationship has spanned many years and the alliance between us is strong."
Last Friday, the White House denied that Biden intentionally ignored Netanyahu by not including him in the phone calls with foreign leaders since taking office on January 20. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed during a briefing for journalists that the two leaders would speak soon. Biden has already contacted several foreign leaders, including those of China, Mexico, the United Kingdom, India, France, Germany, Japan, and South Korea.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump and his successor Barack Obama, during whose administration Biden served as Vice President, both contacted Netanyahu within days of taking office. The absence of direct communication between the Democratic American president and the right-wing Israeli prime minister has led to speculation in Israel and among Middle East experts that the new U.S. administration might be signaling its dissatisfaction with the close ties Netanyahu had with Biden's predecessor, Trump.
Former Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, created a humorous diplomatic situation by publicly posting Netanyahu’s phone number, urging President Biden to call him. Danon tweeted this on his official Twitter account last Wednesday evening, mentioning Netanyahu's phone number and inviting Biden to contact him, similar to his calls with leaders from 10 other countries. The veteran Israeli diplomat noted that Biden had reached out to leaders from ten different nations, including long-time U.S. allies like Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, India, and Australia, posing the question of whether it was time for him to contact the leader of Israel, the closest ally of the United States.
