Biden And Netanyahu Hold First Call Since Before Holidays

Peter Baker at the New York Times reports on X that, according to the White House, President Biden has spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, "to discuss the latest developments in Israel and Gaza," for the first time since before the holidays.

• The call comes as the US-Israel relationship experiences open disagreement over the future governance of Gaza, following a statement from Netanyahu yesterday rejecting a post-war Palestinian state.
• Although outwardly supportive of Israel's operations, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters yesterday: "We want governance in Gaza that’s representative of the aspirations of the Palestinian people, that they have a vote and a voice in what that looks like and that there’s no reoccupation of Gaza."
• The Jerusalem Post reports: "Biden and other senior US officials are reportedly becoming increasingly frustrated with Netanyahu and his far-right government coalition for not responding positively to the Biden Administration's recent requests over the war in the Gaza Strip."