Wednesday evening (Israel time) US President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a communique.
“The conversation was very friendly and warm and lasted about an hour,” according to a statement from the PMO.
“The two leaders noted their long-standing personal ties and said they would work together to further strengthen the strong alliance between Israel and the United States.”
President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed the advancement of the peace agreements between Israel and regional states, the Iranian threat and the challenges of the region, and agreed to continue talks between them.
Biden also praised the prime minister for his leadership in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and the two exchanged views on ways to deal with the pandemic, according to the PMO.
The White House released the following statement:
Readout of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel
FEBRUARY 17, 2021President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today by phone with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel. The President affirmed his personal history of steadfast commitment to Israel’s security and conveyed his intent to strengthen all aspects of the U.S.-Israel partnership, including our strong defense cooperation. Together, the leaders discussed the importance of continued close consultation on regional security issues, including Iran. The President emphasized U.S. 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. Together, they affirmed their shared interest in continued strategic cooperation to confront the many challenges facing the region.