White House Press Secy Psaki dodges questions on U.S. relations with Israel

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 10:25 AM PT – Saturday, February 13, 2021

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki denied criticism that claimed the Biden administration has intentionally neglected Israel. In a press briefing Friday, Psaki blamed the administration’s brief time in office for the lack of communication between Joe Biden and his Israeli counterpart.

She also would not confirm if Biden plans to reach out to Israel in the near future. Psaki then attempted to assure reporters the lack of communication with Israel’s prime minister was not intentional.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on during a joint press conference. (Photo by Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images)

“It is not an intentional diss,” Psaki claimed. “Prime Minister Netanyahu is someone the president has known for some time. Obviously, we have a long and important relationship with Israel. And the president has known him and has been working on a range of issues that there’s mutual commitment to for some time.”

@POTUS Joe Biden, you have called world leaders from#Canada#Mexico#UK#India#France#Germany#Japan#Australia#SouthKorea#Russia
Might it now be time to call the leader of #Israel, the closest ally of the #US?
The PM’s number is: 972-2-6705555 pic.twitter.com/OYgPvVga6F

— Ambassador Danny Danon | דני דנון (@dannydanon) February 10, 2021

Meanwhile, an Israeli official took to Twitter earlier this week to urge Biden to contact the “closest ally of the U.S.” He noted Biden called several other ally nations since his time in office, adding now might be the time to communicate with Israel’s prime minister.

MORE NEWS: Biden Family Business Dealings Raise Ethical Questions