Netanyahu acknowledges differences with Biden, but confident he'll call

 

FILE PHOTO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement at the Knesset (Israel's parliament) in Jerusalem, December 22, 2020. Yonatan Sindel/Pool via REUTERS

 

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday acknowledged differences with U.S. President Joe Biden over Iranian and Palestinian issues, but said they enjoy a "very strong" working relationship.

 

The White House on Friday denied that Biden was snubbing Netanyahu by failing to include him so far in an early round of phone calls to foreign leaders since taking office on Jan. 20.

 

Netanyahu dismissed any notion that Biden was intentionally excluding him, telling Israel's Channel 12 television channel: "He'll call ... We have had very strong friendly relations for nearly 40 years, dating from the time I came to Washington as an Israeli diplomatic representative and he was a young senator from Delaware."

 

There has been speculation that the Democratic president could be signalling displeasure over Netanyahu's close ties with former President Donald Trump, who called the right-wing leader two days after his inauguration in 2017.

 

"We also have many things we agree on and the alliance is very strong," Netanyahu said. "But there are also differences, on the issue of Iran and on the Palestinian issue as well."

 

Netanyahu may find the alliance tested if Washington restores U.S. participation in the Iran nuclear deal, from which Trump withdrew, and opposes Israeli settlement building on occupied land where Palestinians seek statehood.

 

On Friday, the White House said Biden and Netanyahu would speak soon, but gave no date.

 

(Writing by Jeffrey Heller; Editing by Dan Grebler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-02-16

 

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1 hour ago, webfact said:

The White House on Friday denied that Biden was snubbing Netanyahu by failing to include him so far in an early round of phone calls to foreign leaders since taking office on Jan. 20.

 

Know your place Sir, Trumps boy Jared is not around to hold your hand and give you biased treatment any longer, get in the queue!

If he is so eager to speak, why he not make the call. Talk, talk, talk! He is probably just sad that no one yet made a call to his new smartphone.

It would be great if Biden just texted him. Much more  youthful approach as well to make him look cool. 

50 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

It would be great if Biden just texted him. Much more  youthful approach as well to make him look cool. 

Or ignored him totally!

No he wont call you to arrange a prisoner swap for you and your wife.

10 hours ago, webfact said:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday acknowledged differences with U.S. President Joe Biden

Yeah, with Biden, Netanyahu actually has to talk sense.  With Trump, he just had to flatter him and Trump would give him anything he wanted. 

trump and natanayou were thick as thieves. they decided unilaterally to make of jerusalem the capital of israel. a diplomatic banana peel for biden. it'll take some time before  the israeli is invited to the wh, i guess

Antisemitism seems be rampant on this forum, sad.

39 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Antisemitism seems be rampant on this forum, sad.

I've seen occasional anti-semitic remarks on this forum. But on this thread? Can you tell us which of these threads is even remotely anti-semitic?

As an American Jew, I can say it is very refreshing to see an American president distance himself from Israel. I generally like the people, but I despise elements within the government. They have a huge lobby, and they spend a fortune lobbying the US political base. My guess is that Biden is taking alot of heat for this, and it demonstrates real courage on his part. The extreme elements within Israeli politics are very toxic, and this sends a message. Without Jared and Trump, the very corrupt Netanyahu is going to have to work very hard for what he gets, and that is the way it should be. 

53 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

As an American Jew, I can say it is very refreshing to see an American president distance himself from Israel. I generally like the people, but I despise elements within the government. They have a huge lobby, and they spend a fortune lobbying the US political base. My guess is that Biden is taking alot of heat for this, and it demonstrates real courage on his part. The extreme elements within Israeli politics are very toxic, and this sends a message. Without Jared and Trump, the very corrupt Netanyahu is going to have to work very hard for what he gets, and that is the way it should be. 

 

I don't think Biden is distancing himself from Israel. From Netanyahu specifically, and Israeli right-wing politics generally, perhaps.

 

What Biden does is two-pronged. On one track, his administration broadcasts that it would, more or less, tone down Trump's one-sided attitude. This probably means going back to how things stood during Obama's and Clinton's terms in office. Some of Trump's policies will be retained, others reversed. At the same time, under Biden, the Middle East is expected to take a back seat (other than the Iran issue), other things being higher priority for the US. My guess is that they want to sort out the first few steps vs. Iran, and only then start the phone rounds to regional leaders.

 

Also, Israel is in election campaign mode, no need to assist Netanyahu's prospects... A while back, when Biden was VP, Netanyahu pulled a fast one on him, announcing illegal settlement expansion just before Biden's visit to Israel. Doubt Biden forgot that.

15 hours ago, alex8912 said:

It would be great if Biden just texted him. Much more  youthful approach as well to make him look cool. 

Biden would have to get an aide to assist him, as it's a youthful thing.

On 2/16/2021 at 4:46 AM, webfact said:

Netanyahu may find the alliance tested if Washington restores U.S. participation in the Iran nuclear deal, from which Trump withdrew, and opposes Israeli settlement building on occupied land where Palestinians seek statehood.

The Israelis created a lot of ' facts ' already by their settlements on occupied land .

Anyway , the settlements are there , that is a fact . They will not be abandoned or destroyed .

What needs to be done now , is to stop the territorial expansion plans , and to accept the idea of an independant  palestinan state .

 

 

 

13 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

Antisemitism seems be rampant on this forum, sad.

Its anti Zionism. There's a big difference.

19 minutes ago, polpott said:

Its anti Zionism. There's a big difference.

I was just being an ass like so many on here throwing ism's around. Didn't mean it but everyone is so sensitive. If you didn't like Obama you're a racist KKK member, if you liked some of Trump's policies you're an ignorant, racist redneck. Liberals so like to put everyone in a neat little box.

23 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

I was just being an ass like so many on here throwing ism's around. Didn't mean it but everyone is so sensitive. If you didn't like Obama you're a racist KKK member, if you liked some of Trump's policies you're an ignorant, racist redneck. Liberals so like to put everyone in a neat little box.

55555....you don't like being labeled, yet you call everyone who disagrees with you a liberal.  Pot.  Kettle.  Black.

43 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

55555....you don't like being labeled, yet you call everyone who disagrees with you a liberal.  Pot.  Kettle.  Black.

We have maps showing red and blue, democrat and Republican. Do you find that offensive? Liberal is a political term unlike ignorant, red neck, trailer living, every ism under the sun all directed at anyone who follows the conservative view point. 

 

But, hey whatever floats your boat.

As was mentioned earlier, Biden will make Bibi work for everything just not given to him like Trump did.  Will the Biden administration still plan on moving the US embassy to Jerusalem?

43 minutes ago, Hanuman2547 said:

As was mentioned earlier, Biden will make Bibi work for everything just not given to him like Trump did.  Will the Biden administration still plan on moving the US embassy to Jerusalem?

 

The American embassy was already moved (well, mostly nominally) to Jerusalem, land was allocated for the expansion plan and the ambassador's estate near Tel-Aviv was sold. Blinken already said they aren't going to undo this part - guess for three reasons:

 

- Not enough political support for changes on Senate and Congress.

- Administrative mess and a whole lot of expense involved.

- There was no direct major backlash to the move.

On 2/16/2021 at 7:21 PM, EVENKEEL said:

Antisemitism seems be rampant on this forum, sad.

Nope- not even a flicker of it so far. Netanyahu, along with the lobbyists in AIPIC, has worked hard over the past two years to link 'anti-Israel' with 'anti-semitic'. Unfortunately too many are buying into it even though its blatant disambiguation.

 

Disliking the actions of a country and its politicians is far from being against a religion or a general population. Any criticism of Israel  the COUNTRY is quickly followed by 'anti-semitic'- its complete BS.

 

Its like dragging out the events of the late 30s and early 40s to justify how they behave now. Yes, it happened- we all know it happened, and abhore what happened. No- it is not an excuse to continue to behave atrociously and maintain an apartheid state that acts as it please attacking sovereign states and conducting assassinations with top cover from the US.

 

I echo spidermike007's comments above as well- he's nailed it.