Jen Saki referred to the fact that, unlike his predecessors, the president has so far refrained from talking to the Israeli prime minister. Has not yet spoken to Netanyahu "
White House spokeswoman Jen Saki said this evening (Thursday) in a briefing to reporters that US President Joe Biden will speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "soon". , Who has so far refrained from talking to the Israeli prime minister even though he has already turned to talks with about ten leaders of other countries.
Netanyahu congratulates President Biden and his deputy on swearing in: "We will strengthen the alliance between us" // Photo: GPO
Among other things, Republican Congressman Michael McCall wondered how it was possible that the US president had been in contact with many countries since taking office about three weeks ago, but could not find time for a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"I hope Biden will call Netanyahu soon," McCall said.
"It is not possible that he has made contact with countries like China, and still not with Israel. Relations between the countries should be a top priority for the United States."
Although Biden himself is known for his long tenure in Congress as a supporter of Israel, the president has surrounded himself with a number of advisers, at least some of whom are considered to have a more sympathetic attitude toward the Palestinians.
In addition, Biden's entourage has not yet forgotten Prime Minister Netanyahu's warm and close relationship with former President Donald Trump, who ran in the election against the incumbent president.
US presidents in the past used to include Israeli prime ministers in one of their first phone calls after taking office, and Biden broke that practice.
However, White House spokeswoman Jen Saki stressed today that there is a long and good relationship between Biden and Netanyahu, and that relations between the United States and Israel are strong.
Meanwhile, former US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro said yesterday that he believes President Biden will call Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "in the coming week."
During an online event of the Friends of the Weizmann Institute of Science Association, Shapiro, who served as ambassador to former President Barack Obama and is considered close to the current US administration, said Biden had not yet spoken to Netanyahu because he preferred to talk to US allied leaders first. Against Russia and China. "Israel does not have such a role in this, but that does not mean that Israel is not important.
The Secretary of State and his Secretary of Defense spoke with their counterparts in Israel, but he first chose to speak to whoever was most urgent to speak to.
There is no reason to worry, "he said.
The former ambassador stressed that relations between Israel and the United States have not changed: "Biden feels deep down that the United States is committed to ensuring Israel's security. He was committed to this even when he was a senator and was there for Israel's strongest supporter in the Senate. "Protects the legitimacy of Israel, whether it is at the UN or in the court in The Hague, for example."