UPDATE 1-Biden to speak with Israel's Netanyahu soon, White House says

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WASHINGTON, Feb 11 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Bidenplans to speak with Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu soon, theWhite House said on Thursday without providing a date.

Biden’s failure to include Netanyahu so far in his callswith foreign leaders has raised eyebrows in Israel and amongMiddle East experts. Former Presidents Barack Obama and DonaldTrump both spoke to him within days of taking office.

"The president looks forward to speaking with Prime MinisterNetanyahu. He's obviously somebody that he has a long-standingrelationship with," White House press secretary Jen Psaki saidat a news briefing.

Having been in lockstep with Trump for four years, Netanyahuwill likely be challenged by any Biden departure from Trump’stough policy on Iran and towards the Palestinians.

Biden has pledged to restore U.S. involvement in the 2015Iran nuclear deal - which Trump had pulled out of - and likelyopposition by the White House to Israeli settlement of occupiedland where Palestinians seek statehood.

Trump delighted Netanyahu by quitting the 2015 nuclear dealwith Iran and reimposing sanctions on it that had been lifted inreturn for limits on activities that could, potentially, producenuclear weapons in the future.

"Obviously there's an important relationship that the UnitedStates has with Israel on the security front and as a keypartner in the region," Psaki said. "He'll be talking with himsoon - I don't have a specific date or time for you on that callyet."(Reporting by Alexandra Alper and Steve Holland; Writing byDoina Chiacu; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Howard Goller)