The year 2021 is merely four weeks old, but it is already showing hopeful signs for peace in the Middle East.

First, there is no denying that transition in the most powerful office in the world is a breath of fresh air for the peace process. Indeed, the Free World is now in a better place, as it celebrates its new leader, a self-described unifier-in-chief.

In his inaugural address, United States President Joseph R. Biden aptly stressed the need for unity to heal deeply divided societies. As the president of the US, Biden’s words carry geopolitical weight and should reflect his intentions across borders.

The new occupant of the White House has a foreign policy approach that is a complete rebuke of the last four years. Within his first hours at the Resolute Desk, President Biden signed an executive order rolling back the controversial “Muslim ban”, along with other detestable immigration policies.

President Biden’s commitment to a dignified and lasting peace in the Middle East is evident from his nominee for top diplomat, Antony Blinken. At his confirmation hearing, the incoming Secretary of State, a practicing Jew, made clear that a two-state solution was the best way “to ensure Israel’s future as a Jewish, democratic state and to give Palestinians a state to which they are entitled.”

Biden has also pledged to restore ties with the Palestinians, resume aid and reject unilateral action, such as the construction of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. In these respects, the early days of 2021 mark a clean break from the past four years.

Second, while it is too early to tell, Israel may soon proceed with a new attitude toward a peaceable coexistence on the home front. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing election challenges in March, this time without the unflinching support from the White House that he has grown accustomed to.

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