'Trump Defeat Shock' Israeli Prime Minister Delays Congratulating Biden's Election Victory

Waiting Until Trump's Concession Declaration
Concerns Over Biden Reversing Trump's Middle East Policy
Message Expressing Hope for Cooperation with Biden Administration Also Sent

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Baek Jong-min] As Joe Biden's election as President of the United States was confirmed, leaders from various countries have sent congratulatory messages, but Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, has expressed a stance of waiting a bit longer.

In a situation where it is uncertain whether the normalization of relations between Israel and Middle Eastern countries, which was promoted together with President Trump, will proceed smoothly, it appears that Netanyahu is refraining from hasty actions.

The U.S. internet media Axios reported on the 7th (local time) that a close aide to Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "Netanyahu is waiting for the official results."

Netanyahu had released a congratulatory video message immediately after President Trump's victory was confirmed following the 2016 presidential election, but this time he has no choice but to take an extremely cautious stance.

Axios predicted that Netanyahu would delay as much as possible while waiting for President Trump to concede.

The Trump administration pursued overtly pro-Israel policies to gain support from Jewish figures within the United States. Jared Kushner, President Trump's Jewish son-in-law, is known to have exerted significant behind-the-scenes influence to establish diplomatic relations between Israel and Middle Eastern countries.

Amid a friendly relationship with President Trump, Netanyahu overcame a crisis of losing power and succeeded in regaining his position.

Although Netanyahu has a close relationship with President Trump, since a regime change is taking place, cooperation with the Joe Biden administration is necessary.

Considering this, Netanyahu's office reportedly conveyed to members of the ruling Likud party on the same day that "Israel will cooperate and work with the Democratic administration just as it did with the Republican administration of the United States."

From Israel's perspective, there is uncertainty whether President-elect Biden will continue the Abraham Accords, the plan for normalization of relations between Israel and Middle Eastern countries that President Trump promoted just before the election.

Axios also reported that Netanyahu is concerned about the possibility that the U.S. might reverse the decision to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.