Biden and Netanyahu have first call after delay | Al Jazeera

Joe Biden had his first official phone call with Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House confirmed on Wednesday after questions swirled over whether the United States president was trying to send a message to the Israeli prime minister by delaying the call.

Biden told White House pool reporters he had a “good conversation” with Netanyahu on Wednesday.

It was Biden’s first call to a Middle East leader since he took office on January 20, signalling the importance of the US-Israel relationship, which has been strong for decades but was significantly bolstered by former President Donald Trump – a staunch Netanyahu ally.

Biden and Netanyahu “discussed the importance of continued close consultation on regional security issues, including Iran”, the White House said in a statement about the call.

“The President emphasized US support for the recent normalization of relations between Israel and countries in the Arab and Muslim world. He underscored the importance of working to advance peace throughout the region, including between Israelis and Palestinians.”...