Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Photo: AFP
Obama 'looking forward' to working with new Israeli government
Statement from White House says administration anticipating consultations on range of issues, including Iran's nuclear aspirations and importance of two-state solution.
The White House said Thursday that "President Obama congratulates Israeli people, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and new governing coalition on formation of Israel's new government."
The official statement came the morning after Netanyahu made a late night deal with Bayit Yehudi's Naftali Bennett on Wednesday night in order to finalize his coalition.
Barack Obama at White House Correspondents dinner. (Photo: EPA)
"President Obama looks forward to working with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his new government," read the White House statement.
The statement also emphasized the US's close "military, intelligence and security cooperation with Israel, which reflects the deep and abiding partnership between both countries."
Netanyahu makes late night deal with Bayit Yehudi's Bennett and Shaked.
"We also look forward to continuing consultations on a range of regional issues, including international negotiations to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and the importance of pursuing a two-state solution," the statement read.
Netanyahu and Obama have publicly disagreed about the Iran nuclear deal – a debate that at times led to uncomfortable tension between the US and Israel.
Most notable was Netanyahu's address to Congress just two weeks before the elections in Israel, during which Netanyahu slammed Obama's deal with Iran in a speech that was reportedly planned without Obama's knowledge.
