Biden said ignoring Bennett’s request for phone call, as US officials meet Herzog

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan held talks Tuesday with Zionist regimes's President Isaac Herzog, his first meeting on a three-day trip to the region, that comes amid reports of tensions between the White House and Jerusalem.

Channel 13 news reported that Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had requested a telephone call with US President Joe Biden some three weeks ago, but had yet to receive an answer.

The report said Bennett was eager to talk to Biden amid the resumption of nuclear talks with Iran, however, the US ignored the request, apparently over growing frustrations with Israeli settlement construction.
 

Bennett’s office downplayed the incident, saying that the idea of a conversation had been raised in talks with US officials, but no formal request had been submitted to the White House.

Herzog’s office said the meeting with Sullivan largely focused on Iran. There was no immediate readout from the Americans.

During the visit to Israel, Sullivan will also meet with Bennett and participate in the fourth meeting of the Strategic Consultative Group (SCG) alongside Israeli counterpart Eyal Hulata. The SCG is a bilateral group aimed at collaborating in the effort to contain Iran's nuclear program.