Joe Biden holds first call with Benjamin Netanyahu after month delay

Mr Netanyahu said the two leaders had spoken in "friendly and warm" terms

Credit: AP

Joe Biden said he had a "good conversation" with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, after facing questions over why he had waited a month to call one of America’s closest allies.  

The two leaders spoke for an hour and discussed policy towards Iran as well as Israel’s growing diplomatic relations with other Arab countries in the region, Mr Netanyahu’s office said.

Mr Biden told reporters in the Oval Office that the pair had had a "good conversation" but declined to say any more.

In recent weeks, Israeli diplomats had raised concerns about the White House’s delay in arranging a call with Mr Netanyahu. 

Mr Biden has spoken with about a dozen other world leaders since taking office on January 20.   

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke this evening with US President @JoeBiden. The conversation was very warm and friendly and continued for approximately one hour. pic.twitter.com/AF3x6aTM36

— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) February 17, 2021

Mr Biden’s spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, had been forced to repeatedly deny the administration was snubbing the Israeli government but yet no call was forthcoming until today. 

There had been speculation that Mr Biden was signalling displeasure over the conservative Prime Minister’s close ties with former president Donald Trump, who called the right-wing leader two days after his inauguration in 2017.

Mr Netanyahu this week acknowledged differences with Mr Biden over Iranian and Palestinian issues, but said the two enjoy a strong working relationship.

The Israeli leader may find the two countries’ alliance tested if Washington restores US participation in the Iran nuclear deal, from which Mr Trump withdrew, and opposes Israeli settlement building on occupied land where Palestinians seek statehood.

The fact that Mr Netanyahu was the first Middle East leader that Mr Biden called was taken as a positive sign, one Israeli diplomat said. 

In a post on Twitter, Mr Netanyahu said the two leaders had spoken in "friendly and warm" terms and noted their "long standing personal connection".