World leaders on Sunday extended their congratulations to Israel's new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, following the Knesset vote that ended Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu's 12-year run as prime minister.
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President Joe Biden said the United States remained committed to Israel's security and would work with its new government. In a statement that made no mention of Netanyahu, Biden welcomed the new coalition and sought to reaffirm US-Israel ties.
The White House said Biden spoke with Bennett on Sunday "to offer his warm congratulations," adding the American president "expressed his firm intent to deepen cooperation between the United States and Israel on the many challenges and opportunities facing the region. The leaders agreed that they and their teams would consult closely on all matters related to regional security, including Iran."
"The United States remains unwavering in its support for Israel's security," Biden said in an earlier statement. "My administration is fully committed to working with the new Israeli government to advance security, stability, and peace for Israelis, Palestinians, and people throughout the broader region."
Today President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Bennett to congratulate him on becoming Prime Minister of Israel. Our governments will work closely together on all the important issues in our bilateral relationship. https://t.co/lZYGY1aNss
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 13, 2021
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken also issued statements welcoming their counterparts in the new Israeli government.
"Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken warmly congratulated Yair Lapid today [Sunday] on Israel's government," the State Department said, adding that the two discussed "the US commitment to Israel's security, the importance of maintaining a cessation of hostilities, opportunities to deepen and broaden normalization of diplomatic relations, the threat posed by Iran, and other regional priorities. Minister Lapid and Secretary Blinken acknowledged the strong partnership between the United States and Israel, and the Secretary noted that he looked forward to welcoming the Minister to Washington soon as the two governments work to build an even stronger relationship between our countries and our peoples."
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's office had little to say about Israel's new government, calling it an "internal Israeli affair."
Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said that the Palestinian position remains "adherence to international legitimacy and the two-state solution by establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with east Jerusalem as its capital."
I congratulate Prime Minister @naftalibennett & Alternate Prime Minister & Foreign Minister @yairlapid for the formation of a new Israeli government. I look forward to working with the Government to advance the ultimate goal of a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
— Tor Wennesland (@TWennesland) June 13, 2021
Gaza's Hamas rulers said they will confront the new Israeli government that is expected to take office.
Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for the Islamic terrorist group ruling the Gaza Strip, said Sunday that any Israeli government is "a settler occupier entity that must be resisted by all forms of resistance, foremost of which is the armed resistance."
Barhoum noted that "the behavior of this government on the ground will determine the way and nature of dealing with it."
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted, "On behalf of the UK, I offer my congratulations to Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid on forming a new government in Israel. As we emerge from COVID-19, this is an exciting time for the UK and Israel to continue working together to advance peace and prosperity for all."
UN envoy to the Middle East Tor Wennesland said, "I look forward to working with the government to advance the ultimate goal of a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians."
On behalf of the UK, I offer my congratulations to @naftalibennett and @yairlapid on forming a new government in Israel.
As we emerge from COVID-19, this is an exciting time for the UK and Israel to continue working together to advance peace and prosperity for all.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) June 13, 2021
European Council President Charles Michel, tweeted, "Congratulations to Prime Minister Naftali Nennett and to Alternate PM and MFA Yair Lapid for the swearing-in of the new Israeli government. Looking forward to strengthening the partnership for common prosperity and towards lasting regional peace & stability."
US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, issued a statement saying, "There's a new administration in Israel. And we are hopeful that we can now begin serious negotiations for a two-state solution. I am urging the Biden Administration to do all it can to bring the parties together and help achieve a two-state solution where each side can live side by side in peace."
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau sent his congratulations to Bennett, saying he "looks forward" to working with him.
"Canada and Israel are close friends bound together by shared democratic values, a long history of cooperation, and vibrant people-to-people ties," Trudeau said in a statement released by his office.
He reiterated that Ottawa "remains steadfast in its commitment to a two-state solution, with Israelis and Palestinians living in peace, security, and dignity – without fear and with their human rights respected."
He also thanked former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "for his valuable partnership over the years, at a time when Canada and Israel achieved a great deal together."
Russian President Vladimir Putin also congratulated Bennett and expressed hope for "constructive" cooperation between Jerusalem and Moscow.
"I expect that your work at the helm of the government will facilitate a further development of constructive bilateral cooperation," Putin said in a message released by the Kremlin. "No doubt it is in the vital interests of our people," Putin said, adding that Russia-Israeli cooperation would help strengthen "peace, security, and stability in the Middle East."
Austria Chancellor Sebastian Kurz congratulated Bennett and Lapid "for forming a government. I look forward to working with you. Austria is committed to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state and will continue to stand by Israel's side."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel also issued a statement congratulating the new government: "Israel and Germany have unique ties that we want to deepen. I look forward to working closely with Bennett's government."
I spoke with @Yair_Lapid to congratulate him on his appointment as Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Israel. We discussed America's unwavering commitment to Israel's security. I look forward to welcoming the Foreign Minister to Washington soon.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) June 13, 2021
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated Bennett on being sworn in as Israel's new prime minister, saying he looks forward to meeting him and bolstering their countries' strategic partnership.
Modi also conveyed his "profound gratitude" to Netanyahu, tweeting, "As you complete your successful tenure as the prime minister of the State of Israel, I convey my profound gratitude for your leadership and personal attention to India-Israel strategic partnership."
Excellency @naftalibennett, congratulations on becoming the Prime Minister of Israel. As we celebrate 30 years of the upgradation of diplomatic relations next year, I look forward to meeting you and deepening the strategic partnership between our two countries. @IsraeliPM
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2021
World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder also congratulated the new government, saying in a statement that he "I congratulate the leaders of Israel's political parties who have come together to form a government of national unity that includes all sides of the Israeli political spectrum, from right to left, religious to secular. I am delighted that these efforts have now come to fruition and that this new government has been established.
"On behalf of the more than 100 Jewish communities on six continents affiliated with the World Jewish Congress, I look forward to working with the new government as it embarks on the daunting task of providing the State of Israel with a sense of political stability and ensuring its ongoing success, both domestically and internationally, as we together confront the growing surge of antisemitism across the globe that threatens both Israel and the Jewish people," he said.
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