World Jewish News

British Prime Minister David Cameron in the Knesset, Israel's parliament in Jerusalem, during a visit to Israel in March 2014.

Cameron congratulates Netanyahu

British Prime Minister David Cameron was among the first world leaders to congratulate his his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on having secured a decisive victory in Tuesday’s general election.
In a message via Twitter, Cameron said “Congratulations to Netanyahu on election result.”
Cameron also reiterated the strength of the relations between his country and Israel. “As one of Israel’s firmest friends, Britain looks forward to working with the new government,” he said.
According to the Daily Mail, a Downing Street spokesman elaborated, saying that Cameron “wants to see peace, he wants to see a two-state solution and we are going to – as one of Israel’s firmest friends – continue to do what we can to support that goal.”
British Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond told a Jewish community gathering in London that “the really robust position” taken by Britain and Germany is preventing the EU from being more critical of Israel over paralysis in the peace process.
European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini also congratulated Netanyahu, stressing that the EU is “committed to working with” the new Israeli government and said she, “staunchly supports a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,’’ without mentioning the two-state solution, the cornerstone of the EU’s position on the Middle East peace process.
‘’We are at your side, you can count on us,” Mogherini said in her message to Netanyahu.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry called Netanyahu to offer his congratulations, although no details of the call were released.
US President Barack Obama has not yet called Netanyahu, Earnest explained, but would do so in “coming days,” declining to give a specific date.
In 2013, Obama waited until the new government was formed before calling to congratulate Netanyahu, but then-press secretary Jay Carney congratulated the “Israeli people” the morning after the election.
“Elections are a stage in a process in Israel, and the final results themselves are not yet in,” explained Carney at the time.
“I do anticipate that the president will call Prime Minister Netanyahu in the coming days,” said Earnest whoe added that the White House will “re-evaluate our position” on the peace process in light of Netanyahu distancing himself from the two-state solution on the eve of Tuesday’s election. The Israeli Prime Minister said Monday that a Palestinian State would never be allowed as long as he was Prime Minister.
Earnest said the United States remains committed to an eventual Palestinian state. "A two-state solution is the best way to address this conflict," Earnest told reporters aboard Air Force One as Obama was traveling to Cleveland.
The White House spokesman also signaled disappointment with the rhetoric used by the Netanyahu’s political party in the elections, accusing them of marginalizing Arab-Israeli citizens.
“The United States and this administration is deeply concerned about rhetoric that seeks to marginalize Arab-Israeli citizens,” he said. “It undermines the values and Democratic ideals that have been important to our democracy and an important part of what binds the United States and Israel together.”
Republicans have not waited to congratulate Netanyahu as potential 2016 presidential candidates have already voiced their support on Twitter.
Among the other world leaders responding to Tuesday’s election, Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that “Israel has no greater friend than Canada” and looks forward to working with the new Israeli government. Meanwhile, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted congratulations to “my friend Bibi Netanyahu?’’

by Yossi Lempkowicz

EJP