Suspicion rose after US President Joe Biden had postponed calling PM Benjamin Netanyahu, leaving questions on the relations between the two strategic allies. The situation has been tense since the state of hesitation the ‘Israeli’ occupation government felt last November during the American elections. While former presidents, Obama and Trump, had made contact with Netanyahu in their early days of presidency, Biden has not taken any steps yet.
Netanyahu tried to make the situation seem normal. Gilad Erdan, Permanent Representative of the occupation to the UN, stated that Netanyahu did not feel disturbed for Biden’s preoccupation with other more urgent matters, such as the Coronavirus and the economic issue, and for not contacting him. Observers see, however, that it was not just Netanyahu Biden had not contacted. He had made calls with a small number of leaders of powerful countries that matter to his politics.
Things are not as simple. Biden perceives Netanyahu as a strategic ally for his sworn rival Trump. Netanyahu had shown his strong support to Trump during the electoral campaign, and congratulated Biden for his victory somewhat late; he even waited until the results were official. Making the matter worse, Netanyahu described Biden as ‘Sleepy Joe’ in a phone call with Trump, questioning Biden’s ability to conclude normalization agreements the way Trump had done.
Biden, the Occupation and the Middle East
Until this moment, Biden does not think the Middle East, in general, and the occupation, in particular, are of great importance to his administration. He focused on the leaders whose territories and issues served his strategic visions. He contacted China, Russia, Britain, France, Germany, South Korea, India and Mexico.
The more puzzling part is the answer Jennifer Psaki, White House Press Secretary, gives to journalists who ask why the US President had not spoken to the occupation yet. She repeats that the USA has a long and important relation with the occupation, and that the American Administration reviews its policies on the Middle East before contacting the relevant parties and leaders there.
Optimists see this absence of communication as unintentional, especially that the American Administration is preoccupied with more urgent matters. Once Biden’s strategy regarding the Middle East is clear, Netanyahu will be the first on the list. The Pessimists, however, think that the gap between the two parties is complicated and suffers from crucial disputes.
Crisis Approaching
The crisis has affected the airlines as well. The occupation had issued a decision preventing foreign planes, including American ones, from landing in the entity as part of its fight against the Corona pandemic. The American Administration, in response, threatened to prevent the occupation’s planes from landing in the USA should the decision remain in effect. As a result, Miri Regev, Minister of Transportation, called for holding talks to avoid any undesired developments.
From Trump to Biden
It appears that Netanyahu is still surviving the post-Trump crisis. Being his best friend, Trump offered Netanyahu and his government all the possible jurisdictions and facilitations. On the other hand, Biden is overlooking the issues related to the Arab region and the Arab-‘Israeli’ conflict.
Biden’s policy resembles that of the former democratic President Barak Obama whose administration collided with the occupation on several issues. During Obama’s rule, when Biden was an active player at the time, the relations between the occupation and the USA were tense especially in relation to the Iranian file and the settlements issue in the occupied West Bank. Obama’s Administration hindered some settlement projects, but it was always committed to the security and advancement of the occupation – as did all other American governments.
New Path
Observers see Biden’s delay in contacting Netanyahu a clear message to the occupation reflecting how the new American Administration will be less tolerant with the occupation. It will not be the same as the former one which served Netanyahu’s political programs and supported him in the internal battles.
Biden knows that Netanyahu’s rush for talks is to help him achieve political gains. It seems, however, that Biden will not be playing the same role as Trump, and will deprive Netanyahu from promoting his relations with the new administration.
Yossi Melman, writer in Haaretz, described the American Administration’s treatment of Netanyahu as trying to tell Netanyahu that ‘he was not special’. The chemistry that was between him and Trump failed to strengthen his position in Washington and started posing as an obstacle.