After a four-year honeymoon with US President Donald Trump, the Israeli political system on Sunday began gearing up for the expected change in the White House.
Blue and White ministers offered their congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden, while Labor leader Economy Minister Amir Peretz thanked Trump "for his unconditional support for Israel and his contribution toward achieving peace agreements with Arab countries."
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Peretz expressed hope that the Biden administration will continue the wave of peace agreements and help resume the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, stalled since 2014, so as to facilitate the two-state solution. "President-elect Joe Biden has proven throughout his years of public activity that he is a true friend of Israel and is committed to maintaining its security," he noted.
Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel also offered his congratulations, saying, "I congratulate president-elect Joe Biden. I am convinced that he will continue to be a true friend of Israel. Thank you, President Trump, for the friendship and wonderful term during which you advanced peace in the region through strength. The shared values of Israel and the US will always remain above politics."
A senior Likud minister told Israel Hayom that Biden is committed to Israel's security and acted so when he served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Former Jerusalem mayor Likud MK Nir Barkat tweeted, "I congratulate Joe Biden on being declared president-elect of the United States and believe that under his leadership the courageous and positive relationship between the two countries will continue. I want to President Trump thank from the bottom of my heart for his incredible friendship and tremendous contribution over the past four years. President Trump will eternally be remembered as a true friend and a supporter of the State of Israel."
Political sources said that for Israel, the critical question is who will be on Biden's transitional team and later, his administration.
"People like [former US Ambassador to Israel] Daniel Shapiro, [former Deputy National Security Adviser] Antony Blinken, and [career diplomat] Nicholas Burns are true supporters of Israel, good people who we can work with even if disagreements arise. If the relationship with Israel will be managed by people from the party's radical wing, like [former US envoy to the UN] Susan Rice, it will be more complicated."
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