Edited by: Fern Sidman
Since last Tuesday’s outstanding victory in the Israeli elections, the soon to be Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been receiving congratulatory messages from world leaders, elected officials and others who support the vision that he sees for the Jewish state in the years to come.
JNS reported that on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Netanyahu on his right-religious bloc’s victory in last week’s elections.
“I just called Benjamin Netanyahu to congratulate him for his victory in the elections. We share the same desire to strengthen the already strong ties between Israel and France,” Macron tweeted.
The two leaders discussed regional issues, with a focus on Iran’s nuclear program, Israeli media reported.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, also newly elected, said in a tweet: On behalf of the UK, I would like to congratulate @netanyahu on his victory in the Israeli elections. Across areas like trade, security and technology there is a huge amount our countries do together and I look forward to working with the returning Prime Minister.
Giorgia Meloni , the prime minister of Italy tweeted: Congratulations – Mazel Tov to @netanyahu for the electoral success. Ready to strengthen our friendship and our bilateral relations, to better face our common challenges.
Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary tweeted: What a great victory for Benjamin @Netanyahu in Israel! Hard times require strong leaders. Welcome back!
Nicos Anastasiades, the president of the Republic of Cyprus tweeted: Warm congratulations to the people of Israel for exercising their democratic voting right & to my dear friend @netanyahu for his electoral victory.Looking forward to working closely together, as in the past, for the further deepening of Cyprus, Israeli relations & promoting peace in our region.
Mateusz Morawiecki, the prime minister of Poland tweeted: Congratulations on the victory of PM @netanyahu with whom I spoke over the phone. We are undertaking actions that will strengthen our political, economic, cultural and interpersonal relations-especially between young people.
Krišjānis Kariņš, the president of the Republic of Latvia tweeted: Congratulations to Likud and @netanyahu for election victory. Our wishes for success to Israel with forming a new government! Latvia and Israel share a strong bilateral relationship, I look forward to developing it further.
Netanyahu has also been congratulated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among others.
Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted: Congratulations to @netanyahu on winning the elections. It’s always important to see real democracy in action. Ukraine and Israel share common values & challenges that now require effective cooperation. We hope to open a new page in cooperation with the new Israeli Government for Ukraine’s and Israel’s benefit!
Narendra Modi , the Prime Minister of India tweeted: Mazel Tov my friend @netanyahu for your electoral success. I look forward to continuing our joint efforts to deepen the India-Israel strategic partnership.
Texas US House candidate Ronny Jackson, a Republican tweeted: I want to send a Texas sized CONGRATULATIONS to @netanyahu on his HUGE win! Prime Minister Netanyahu is a GREAT friend to the United States and our partnership will only grow after today.
Former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley tweeted: Congratulations to @netanyahu on a historic victory. Israel has once again proven the strength of its democracy. I have every confidence that our great ally will move forward from strength to strength.
Mike Pompeo, who served as CIA director and former Secretary of State tweeted: Welcome back, @Netanyahu —you were missed!
Francis Suarez, the mayor of Miami, Florida tweeted: Congratulations to my friend @netanyahu on his election as PM. In war & peace, you have been a true friend to America. Warm regards from Miami!
Also extending their congratulations to Netanyahu was the New York based Jewish Voice: They said: Mazel Tov to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on your outstanding victory. We look forward to continuing our stalwart support of Israel under your incomparable leadership. You are a true statesman and a passionate defender of the one and only Jewish state!
JNS had originally reported on Friday that President Joe Biden has yet to formally congratulate Netanyahu, but on Monday the AP reported that Biden called Netanyahu with a congratulatory message. their offices announced.
Also on Friday, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides reportedly said that the delay was due to Biden’s busy schedule ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections, and that a call would be forthcoming.
Nides tweeted his own congratulatory message saying: Good call just now with Benjamin @Netanyahu. I congratulated him on his victory and told him I look forward to working together to maintain the unbreakable bond.
During their phone conversation on Monday, both Biden and Netanyahu stressed the strong relations between the countries while playing down the deep ideological differences, the report stated.
According to Netanyahu’s office, Biden stressed the years-long friendship between the men, stating they are “brothers” and together will “make history,” the AP reported. It said the president mentioned his “unwavering support for Israel.”
Netanyahu predicted that together they will bring “more historic peace agreements,” a reference to the diplomatic pacts with Arab countries brokered by the Trump administration when Netanyahu was in office in 2020, according to the AP report.
Netanyahu, who was ousted from office last year, also said his commitment to the alliance with the U.S. is “stronger than ever.”
Meanwhile, Netanyahu on Sunday met individually with other party heads from his Likud Party-led bloc—namely, Religious Zionism Party head Bezalel Smotrich, Aryeh Deri of Shas and Yitzhak Goldknopf of United Torah Judaism—as the process of forming the country’s next governing coalition kicked into gear, according to the JNS report.
The bloc secured a decisive win in the elections, with Likud garnering 32 mandates, Religious Zionism 14, Shas 11 and UTJ 7—for a total of 64 seats in the 120-member Knesset.
JNS also reported that the official results will be presented to Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday, following which he will have seven days to hold consultations with all party heads before tasking someone—Netanyahu, barring a force majeure—to form Israel’s next government.
