Questions arise over US President Biden not having called Israeli PM Netanyahu yet

Jerusalem/Washington: – It has been three months since Joe Biden won the US Presidential elections. Three weeks have passed since he took over as the President of the United States. During this period, he held discussions with leaders of most of the important countries. But to date, Biden has not called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This has become a hot topic for discussion for the media and officials from both the countries. Repercussions of this are also seen in the internal politics of both countries. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki clarified that the talks would happen soon, but she didn’t have the exact date and time.

Former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, showered criticism on President Biden. Haley had said that President Biden is giving more importance to Iran, by ignoring Israel, the closest ally of the United States. Whereas, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked whether the United States will be providing billions of dollars in aid to Iran, compromising the Israeli security. President Biden has not held discussions with the Israeli Prime Minister even after this. Biden has had telephonic talks with Russian and Chinese Presidents. Israeli analysts claim that President Biden has delivered the message, ‘You Are Not Special,’ by avoiding talking to the Israeli Prime Minister.

Former Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, has posted the list of countries that Biden has spoken to. Along with the list, he has published the number of the Israeli Prime Minister. Repercussions have been felt of this post, and the US media have taken cognisance of the issue. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki was questioned in this regard. While answering the question, Psaki said that both the leaders would speak soon, but she did not have the exact date and time. She also added that Israel is the closest ally of the United States.

This indicates that tension is reigning between the United States and Israel. During the tenure of Barack Obama as President and Biden as Vice President, the US-Israel relations had aggravated. A strong possibility is being predicted that President Biden must have avoided talking to the Israeli Prime Minister to make him realise the ground reality. Former US Ambassador to Israel, Daniel Shapiro, remarked that this matter need not be taken so seriously. President Biden is calling the countries as per the geographic locations. Shapiro said that President Biden would talk to the Israeli prime minister once the Gulf region features the list.

The Israeli Prime Minister also has made statements regarding this to ensure that the dispute between the two countries does not fester. Only a few days ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that the cooperation between the United States and Israel would continue despite the differences. But still, President Biden has delivered contrasting messages to Iran and Israel with the initiative to sign a nuclear deal with Iran and withdrawal of the aircraft carrier from the Persian Gulf. But President Biden it taking precautions not to be labelled as anti-Israel.

During the tenure of Donald Trump, the United States recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and shifted the US embassy there. New Secretary of State, Blinken, announced that the US embassy would continue to be in Jerusalem. Secretary of State Blinken also announced that the Biden administration recognises Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.