As Netanyahu waits for Biden to call, some fear four years of busy signals

[Elderberry]

The Times of Israel By Lazar Berman 2/8/2021

After nearly 3 weeks, the question is whether the US president’s decision to not call Israel’s leader is a petty snub or a sign of how the administration will approach the region

After 19 days, the unringing phone in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has become impossible to ignore, resonating louder than any actual conversation he could have had with US President Joe Biden by now. After nearly three weeks of silence from the United States to its closest ally in the region, and an indispensable partner in countering Iran’s malign ambitions, some Israelis are starting to worry.

Growing numbers of observers do not see the non-call as a minor snub, a harmless move in the game of diplomatic protocol. It has become a reason for them to start wondering about the new US administration’s approach to the region, and its willingness to let go of the past in order to solve today’s pressing challenges.

At first, it was not necessarily a problem at all. Biden’s phone calls to foreign leaders during his first week in office showed a focus on his most pressing issues: immigration and trade (Mexico, Canada), shoring up the NATO alliance against Russia (UK, France, Germany, NATO secretary-general, Russia), and sending signals to China and North Korea, with calls to South Korea and Australia.

More: https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-netanyahu-waits-for-biden-to-call-some-fear-four-years-of-busy-signals/

[PeteS in CA]

Given the make-up of Biden's MalAdministration, silence is likely to be Israel's best case prospect.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Netanyahu was one of the first after November 4  to have a "warm" conversation with "my longtime friend", Joe Biden. 

What does Bibi want now? 

[mystery-ak]

Biden’s Ghosting of Netanyahu Raises Concern for U.S.-Israel Ties

Deborah Brand 11 Feb 2021

In the three weeks since taking office, President Joe Biden has called the leaders of several key allies around the world — except, conspicuously, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leading to speculation the frosty start is a sign of things to come for Israel-U.S. ties.

Donald Trump, by contrast, called Netanyahu within two days of becoming president.

“It’s a clear sign of displeasure from President Biden with the fact that Prime Minister Netanyahu was perceived in Washington for the last 12 years as almost a card-carrying member of the Republican Party,” said Dani Dayan, a former Israel consul-general in New York who has joined New Hope, a political party headed by Netanyahu rival Gideon Sa’ar.

“I hope it’s a symbolic thing to show their displeasure that will not have serious political consequences in the decision-making process,” Dayan was quoted as saying by the Times of Israel.

Former Israeli ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon noted Biden has called leaders from Canada, Mexico, India, UK, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Russia.

“Might it now be time to call the leader of Israel, the closest ally of the U.S.?” Danon wrote on Twitter and included a phone number for Netanyahu’s office.

more
https://www.breitbart.com/middle-east/2021/02/11/bidens-ghosting-of-netanyahu-raises-concern-for-u-s-israel-ties/

[Fishrrman]

Bibi is better off not talking to ol' uncle joe at all.

Anything of consequence he says or reveals WILL be used against him, and against Israel.

What Bibi needs to know about what's going on here, let him ask Mossad to find out for him. I'd trust them before I'd trust most American governmental agencies...

[PeteS in CA]

...
Anything of consequence he says or reveals WILL be used against him, and against Israel.
...

Great turn of phrase, @Fishrrman!

Biden has populated his MalAdministration with Israel haters. Israel would be foolish to trust Biden & Crew with anything important. IMO, Israel should test Biden & Crew with info about a fake operation to see whether the fake target shows they had been tipped off ... maybe a couple of times. If the fake targets were tipped off Israel should, at their convenience and possibly very publicly, ram it down Biden's throat.