Netanyahu on Biden snub: US-Israel alliance remains strong

The fact that US President Joe Biden has not called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yet is not indicative of a rupture in the US-Israel relationship, Netanyahu said on Monday.“I spoke with President Biden right after his victory,” Netanyahu said, when asked about the matter in a press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.Biden is “calling according to the order that he sees fit…He hasn’t reached the Middle East yet,” the prime minister added.Netanyahu said he has “no doubt our alliance is strong. It doesn’t mean we agree on everything but the alliance is strong and so is our friendship of almost 40 years.”Biden has spoken to eight leaders of countries around the world since his January 20 inauguration, none of which are in the Middle East.Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi  and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke for the second time Monday. Ashkenazi thanked Blinken  for his public support after the International Criminal Court ruled that it can investigate  Israel for alleged war crimes  a decision Ashkenazi called “outrageous.”“I emphasized to the Secretary of State that the court’s decision is mistaken at its core, and it endangers the rare opportunity to promote peace in our region,” Ashkenazi tweeted following the call.

The foreign minister said they also discussed “joint efforts to prevent Iran from attaining nuclear weapons and undermining regional stability.”Ashkenazi thanked Blinken and Biden for their “deep commitment to Israeli security and the strategic alliance between our countries.”Earlier Monday, Ashkenazi met with the American Charge d’Affaires in Jerusalem, Jonathan Shrier. Ashkenazi’s office said Shrier reiterated that the US will not lift sanctions on Iran until it stops enriching uranium beyond the limits of the 2015 nuclear deal.Shrier said the US opposes the International Criminal Court ruling that would allow it to investigate Israel.The two also discussed the Abraham Accords and relations with the Palestinian Authority.Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed their countries’ coordination in Syria on Monday.“I speak to President Putin often to ensure security cooperation. We act on fronts that are very close, so it is important to coordinate,” Netanyahu said at the press conference later, in response to a question about the call.The statement from Netanyahu’s office said they discussed “regional issues and the continued coordination between Israel and Russia regarding security developments in the region.”The Russian readout said “the exchange of views continued on topical issues of the international and regional agenda, primarily in the context of the current situation in the Middle East”The leaders speak regularly, in light of Israel’s policy to prevent Iran from establishing a foothold close to its northern border and to stop the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah. Israel forewarns Moscow of these actions, as Russia has a large military presence in Syria.Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi also spoke with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.The conversation focused on “preventing Iran from attaining nuclear weapons and consolidating its power in the region,” Ashkenazi said in a tweet.The ministers also agreed that they would hold events in Russia and Israel to mark the 30th anniversary of renewed diplomatic relations between the countries.Earlier on Monday, Ashkenazi met with the American Charge d’Affaires in Jerusalem, Jonathan Shrier.Ashkenazi’s office said Shrier reiterated that the US will not lift sanctions on Iran until it stops enriching uranium beyond the limits of the 2015 nuclear deal.Shrier said the US opposes the International Criminal Court ruling that would allow it to investigate Israel.The two also discussed the Abraham Accords and relations with the Palestinian Authority.Ashkenazi also spoke with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, emphasizing that Israel views the ICC ruling as harmful to peace and helpful to extremists in the region.They also discussed the Iranian nuclear threat, and Ashkenazi said “continuing pressure is more necessary now than ever.”