No call scheduled between Biden and Netanyahu yet: White House

The White House announced on Thursday that US President Joe Biden has no immediate plan to speak to Benjamin Netanyahu, the PM of Israel, hinting at weaker than before relations.  

Almost a month into his term as the US President, Biden has altered the connections with a few international leaders but has kept on maintaining traditional alliances of the US. 

“The president looks forward to speaking with Prime Minister Netanyahu,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.

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“He’ll be talking with him soon. I don’t have a specific date or time for you on that call,” she said.

She noted the “important relationship” and called Israel “a key partner.”

The US State Department, under the leadership of Biden, has also made amends to the foreign policy of the US and rolled back the foundation set by former US President Donald Trump. The department made clear its opposition to further Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories.

“It is critical to refrain from unilateral steps that exacerbate tensions and that undercut efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.

“Unilateral steps might include annexation of territory, settlement activity, demolitions, incitement to violence, the provision of compensation for individuals in prison for acts of terrorism,” he said, also referring to the Palestinians’ controversial fund that pays inmates in Israeli incarceration or their families.

The decision of allowing US citizens to write “Jerusalem, Israel” in their passports if they were born in the city taken by Trump remains unchanged. 

Price said that the final status of Jerusalem needed to be resolved by the Israelis and Palestinians in direct negotiations.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who made bold statements in his conversation with the US Senate committees, previously announced that the US will not roll back its decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem. 

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On Wednesday, Biden finally spoke with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, highlighting the many disagreements between the world’s two biggest economic powers — and growing rivals.

Biden did, however, make up for Xi’s long wait, talking for “two straight hours,” he told reporters Thursday.

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and President of Brazil, who were considered to be close friends of Trump, have still not be contacted by the new US President.