Former Israeli ambassador calls out Biden with awkward tweet for not calling Netanyahu

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Israel's former Permanent Representative to the United Nations Danny Danon called out President Biden for not yet calling Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Mr Danon tweeted out a list of ten countries whose leaders Mr Biden has spoken to and added: "Might it now be time to call the leader of Israel, the closest ally of the US?"

Mr Danon also included a phone number that he said belonged to the Prime Minister.

Josh Marshall, the founder of Talking Points Memo, responded to Mr Danon, tweeting: "Glad you're seeing that Netanyahu making Israel an affiliate of the Republican party has been noticed and has consequences. The call will come. But trolling the US President about it won't help and suggests you're still not getting the message."

Middle East analyst and Senior Fellow at the think tank Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Aaron David Miller, tweeted: "A call will come. But a clear message is being sent. Netanyahu was Trump’s 3rd call. To quote Dorothy, we’re not in Kansas anymore," Mr Miller wrote, referencing the Wizard of Oz to say that the previous state of normality has been left behind.

Times of Israel diplomatic reporter wrote in an analysis that the lack of a phone call has become "impossible to ignore," that the silence is "resonating louder than any actual conversation" they could have had, and that "some Israelis are starting to worry".

Mr Netanyahu said Monday that he expects a call from Mr Biden to come soon. He said that Mr Biden is calling leaders "as he sees fit" and that he expects to speak to Mr Biden when the president starts calling leaders in the Middle East. Conceding that the two men have different opinions on certain issues, Mr Netanyahu added: “Our alliance is strong."

Former New York Israeli consul-general Dani Dayan told Times of Israel that he interpreted the weeks of silence as a "clear sign of displeasure". Noting the troubled past between Mr Netanyahu and Mr Biden's former boss and close friend President Barack Obama, Mr Dayan added: “I hope it’s a symbolic thing to show their displeasure that will not have serious political consequences in the decision-making process."

Danielle Pletka at the conservative DC think tank American Enterprise Institute called the lack of a call “bizarre, inappropriate, immature," and said: “It’s unclear why President Biden would wish to signal to all of Israel’s enemies that the United States doesn’t stand with our most important ally in the Middle East.”

On Wednesday, Axios reported that the Biden Administration doesn't see the conflict between Israel and Palestine as a top priority and that they don't think they can make much progress on the issue.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.