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Israel Stays Flexible on U.S. Election Outcome
(Al-Monitor) Andrew Parasiliti - While former Vice President Joe Biden is a longtime champion of the U.S.-Israel relationship, what anxiety there may be in Israel around the rising possibility of a Biden presidency revolves around two issues: Iran, and a wing of the Democratic Party that is not as committed to the U.S.-Israel partnership. But the U.S.-Israel relationship isn't built on one president or party. It has enjoyed rock-solid bipartisan history. If Biden wins, expect Netanyahu and Biden to be on speed dial. If Biden pursues a new deal with Iran, the bet here is he will keep Netanyahu and Israel close, avoiding the friction of the Obama administration. Biden has been complimentary of Israel's normalization agreements, and would likely pick up that thread. Biden will also be key to holding off initiatives by Democrats critical of Israel. The writer, former director of RAND's Center for Global Risk and Security and executive director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies-US, is president of Al-Monitor.