The Biden administration insists it will judge Israel’s new far-right government based on its policies, not personalities — but some early measures against the Palestinians are already raising concern.

In the past two weeks, the government led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has revoked the VIP entry permits of several Palestinian officials, moved to restrict the use of the Palestinian flag in public spaces and announced the withholding of some funds from the Palestinian Authority. Further ratcheting up tensions was the brief but controversial visit of hardline National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to Jerusalem’s holiest site. 

Smoothing things over in Washington this week was the man expected to serve as Netanyahu’s main channel to the White House: newly appointed Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. The former Israeli ambassador to the US from 2013 to 2021 arrived Monday for meetings with Biden officials, Rina Bassist reported. 

Dermer, who masterminded Netanyahu’s 2015 speech to the Republican-controlled Congress, remains his close confidant. Despite his antagonistic relationship with some Democrats, Dermer is seen by US officials as a pragmatist, at least compared to the far-right figures in Netanyahu’s cabinet, Ben Caspit reports.