Page 6 - Florida Sentinel 6-18-21

Political
Shift In Israel Provides Biden A Chance For Better Ties
President Biden has long considered Benjamin Netanyahu, the for- mer Israeli prime minister, to be a friend with whom he disagrees, but many administration officials and congressional Democrats dis- dained him.
Michelle And Barack Obama Share Heartfelt Tributes On Sasha's 20th Birthday
WASHINGTON — Presi- dent Biden waited more than three weeks after his in- auguration to place his first call to Benjamin Ne- tanyahu, Israel’s prime minister at the time. It took Mr. Biden less than three hours after the swearing in on Sunday of Mr. Ne- tanyahu’s successor, Naf- tali Bennett, to phone with what the White House called his “warm congratulations.”
Mr. Bennett responded in kind, and on Monday, Yair Lapid, his centrist partner in the awkward coali- tion assembled to oust Mr. Netanyahu, went even fur- ther, blaming Mr. Ne- tanyahu for poisoning Israel’s relationship with Mr. Biden and the Democratic Party.
The change in government in Israel will hardly wipe away deep differences with the Biden administration: The right-wing Mr. Bennett is ideologically closer to Mr. Netanyahu than to Mr. Biden. And it did not make the longstanding issues in the Middle East any less in- tractable.
But the early interactions suggest a shift in tone and an opportunity, analysts said, to establish a less contentious relationship, with potential implications for dealing with Iran, the Palestinians and the wider region.
“The tone and tenor of the relationship has gotten off to a very good start,” said Daniel C. Kurtzer, the U. S. ambassador to Israel from 2001 to 2005.
To commemorate the turn of their daughter's second decade, Barack and Michelle Obama took to so- cial media this morning to share nostalgic photos of their youngest, Sasha Obama, alongside heartfelt messages.
"Happy birthday, Sasha!" the former president wrote on Twitter. "You've grown so much, and it's been a joy to watch you become the person we always hoped you'd be. Your mom and I can't wait to see where life takes you next."
"Happy birthday to my dar- ling Sasha!" the former First Lady wrote via Instagram. "I am so grateful for every laugh
BARACK AND MICHELLE WITH YOUNG SASHA AND MALIA
we've shared—and everything you've taught me over the years. You'll always be my lit-
tle girl, but I couldn't be prouder of the woman you are becoming. Love you so much!"
Nearing 600,000 COVID Deaths, U. S. Continues Vaccination Push
Across the United States, governments are loosening social distancing rules and re- laxing mask mandates, and businesses are fully reopening amid a steady decline in COVID-19 cases and sus- tained progress in the nation’s vaccination campaign.
But the coronavirus pan- demic has claimed more lives in the US than in any other country in the world. And on
People lining up for vaccine shots in Chelsea, Massachusetts
Monday, the U. S. appeared
set to reach yet another grim new milestone, as the death toll approached 600,000, ac- cording to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
President Joe Biden said Monday that despite a nation- wide drop in cases and hospi- talizations, the disease “is still a real tragedy” and is claiming an average of 370 people a day.
He implored Americans who have not been vaccinated to get jabs.
“If you’ve not been vacci- nated, get vaccinated. Get vaccinated as soon as possi- ble,” Biden said at a news conference at the NATO sum- mit in Brussels, Belgium.
“We have more work to do to beat this virus. And now is not the time to let our guard down.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- vention (CDC), the current weekly average of new cases for the disease is 13,997 – a more than 94 percent drop from the peak back in Janu- ary.
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