The administration of US President Joe Biden sent several messages to the new Israeli government headed by Naftali Bennett, in which it affirmed Washington's keenness to strengthen and consolidate relations between the two countries, expand the circle of normalization and fortify the "Abraham agreements."

The phone call between Biden and Bennett - hours after the Knesset gave confidence to the "government of change" - carried with it Washington's willingness to work and cooperate with the new Israeli government on various files in the Middle East, and confirmed Washington's commitment to the two-state solution, despite Biden's realization that this is unrealistic in the foreseeable future. .

In front of this, the US President asked - in his letters to the Bennett government - not to expand settlements in the West Bank, to refrain from any unilateral steps in the Jordan Valley, and to work to improve the living conditions of the Palestinians. He also stressed that the central issue for Washington is a return to the nuclear agreement with Iran.

In contrast to the Palestinian file, which Washington seems to be dealing with with the utmost caution and diplomacy, Israeli analysts believe that the "Abraham Accords" will not be harmed during the era of the new Israeli government, which will continue to support the train of normalization with Arab and Islamic countries.

The phone call between Bennett and Biden came hours after the Knesset granted confidence in the change government (Al-Jazeera)

Consolidation of relations

Nimrod Goren, director of the Israeli Institute "Mitvim", which specializes in foreign policies for Israel and the Middle East, believes;

The Biden administration, which is working to strengthen and consolidate relations with the new Israeli government, was interested in changing the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, who seemed to be in conflict with the White House, and the two sides also sent messages to strengthen the relationship between the American Democratic Party and the entirety of the Israeli parties, which are partners in the government coalition.

Goren explained - in an interview with Al-Jazeera Net - that the Biden administration has coordinated and maintained close relations with Israel, and avoided a clash even with the Netanyahu government by contacting, communicating and meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, who remained in his position, and would serve as a safety valve for the relations between the two countries. .

With regard to the Palestinian issue and the possibility of renewing the course of negotiations between Tel Aviv and Ramallah, the foreign policy specialist for Israel and the Middle East believes that the Washington administration has put the Palestinian file on its agenda by turning the page of former President Donald Trump, as Washington looks forward to restoring relations with the Palestinian Authority and providing aid to the Palestinians He pointed out that the war on Gaza precipitated Washington's intervention in the Palestinian file.

normalization agreements

Nevertheless, the Israeli expert believes that Washington wants to give an opportunity for the new Israeli government to be stable to continue normalization agreements and enhance cooperation with Egypt and Jordan, while expanding the circle of cooperation, partnership and relations between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, which faced unrest after the cancellation of Netanyahu’s visit to the UAE prior to the Knesset elections.

Goren questioned the possibility of the Biden administration exerting pressure on the new Israeli government with the aim of returning to the path of negotiations with the Palestinian Authority immediately, provided that the Bennett government does not take any unilateral steps related to the Palestinian issue.

In light of the continued aggravation of the Palestinian file, the director of "Mitvim" ruled out that other Arab countries would join the normalization train without there being a breakthrough in the Palestinian issue, noting that Biden's appointment as a new envoy for the Middle East peace process - Dan Shapiro - confirms Washington's keenness to Normalization agreements and continued support for the "Abraham Accords", and most importantly its commitment to a two-state solution and resolving the crisis with the Palestinians.

The Biden administration welcomed the new Israeli government and is pushing to strengthen cooperation with it (Al-Jazeera)

reconciliation of interests

The Israeli journalist who specializes in Arab and Palestinian affairs, Yoav Stern, agrees with Goren's proposal regarding the Biden administration's approach to closer relations with the new Israeli government, and support for the normalization process and the "Abraham Accords", but he disagrees with him regarding everything related to the possibility of joining more Arab countries. The normalization agreements are independent of any breakthrough in the Palestinian file, recalling the positions of the Arab countries towards Israel during the recent war on Gaza, which did not exceed condemnation and denunciation.

In his speech to Al-Jazeera Net, Stern explained that President Biden's contact with Prime Minister Bennett is a clear message that Washington is concerned with work, partnership and strengthening the relationship between the two countries, as well as working with Bennett and his support and turning the page of the past dominated by Netanyahu's personality, a message that Washington is interested in returning to the Middle East and addressing All files were waiting for a breakthrough in the political crisis in Israel.

The Israeli journalist stressed that Washington is interested in consolidating relations with Israel, exchanging visits, continuing the path of financial support, maneuvers, investment in joint military projects, developing advanced weapons, and cooperating to preserve joint Israeli-American interests in the Middle East.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center) deliberately clashed with the administration of President Joe Biden (Al-Jazeera)

Palestinian track

Despite the confidence-building means that the phone call between Biden and Bennett carried, there are two main points that serve as a focus of contrast and controversy between Washington and Tel Aviv, the Palestinian issue and the Iranian nuclear issue. clash, and will be forced to accept the American position.

Stern believes that the Palestinian file will be the biggest test for the Bennett government, which does not have a consensus to settle the conflict under the two-state solution, knowing that some of its leaders oppose the idea of ​​establishing a Palestinian state on the borders of the fourth of June, and cling to Israel's right as a sovereign state from the sea to the river. .

Stern believes that reconciliation of Israeli-American interests meets with normalization agreements, support for and progress in them. However, the Palestinian track will constitute a clash between the White House and the Bennett government, which will choose to go to a fifth election over accepting American requests regarding the negotiating track for a two-state solution.