Shift in Israel Provides Biden a Chance for Better Ties
The departure of Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister is a relief for Democrats, but Iran and the Palestinians could test Mr. Biden’s relations with a fragile new Israeli government.
President Biden has long considered Benjamin Netanyahu, the former Israeli prime minister, to be a friend with whom he disagrees, but many administration officials and congressional Democrats disdained him.Credit...Doug Mills/The New York Times
June 14, 2021
WASHINGTON — President Biden waited more than three weeks after his inauguration to place his first call to Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister at the time. It took Mr. Biden less than three hours after the swearing in on Sunday of Mr. Netanyahu’s successor, Naftali Bennett, to phone with what the White House called his “warm congratulations.”