US Capitol
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US Republicans congratulate Netanyahu on win
While top Democrat emphasizes strength of US-Israel ties, GOP legislators laud Likud leader on his re-election.
Republicans were the first US politicians to publicly congratulate Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday for winning Israel's closely-watched elections, weeks after the prime minister controversially addressed Congress at their invitation.
"Congratulations to Prime Minister Netanyahu on his re-election. He's a true leader who will continue to keep Israel strong and secure," said Jeb Bush, a Republican prospective frontrunner in the 2016 presidential race, on Twitter.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Corker hailed Netanyahu, as well as center-left challenger Isaac Herzog for "his competitive run."
Netanyahu at US Congress (Photo: AFP)
"The oldest and most stable democracy in the Middle East has once again gone through a hotly-contested election and will peacefully form a new government," he said.
Even with results still up in the air late Tuesday, some Republicans were quick to declare success for the savvy Israeli politician known to many as "Bibi."
"Congrats to Netanyahu on victory in Israeli elections. A true leader in a wilderness of turmoil," congressman Jeff Duncan wrote on Twitter, barely 90 minutes after polls closed in the Jewish State.
While Tea Party favorite Senator Ted Cruz late Tuesday applauded a Netanyahu victory and assured that Americans "are proud to stand steadfastly with our Israeli brothers," he slammed President Barack Obama for his tense ties with Netanyahu and opposing his recent visit to Washington.
"His electoral success is all the more impressive given the powerful forces that tried to undermine him, including, sadly, the full weight of the Obama political team," Cruz wrote.
Republicans control both chambers of Congress. Earlier this year, House Speaker John Boehner caused a political uproar when, without consulting the White House, he invited Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress. Several Democratic lawmakers boycotted that address.
Most Democrats used discretion in the early hours of Wednesday, and in the run up to the poll, they largely held their verbal fire, opting instead to point to the historic and cultural US-Israeli ties.
US Representative Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in the House of Representatives, said on Wednesday she respected the results of Israel's election and anticipated they would produce a "lively" discussion of the Middle East peace process.
Democrat Nancy Pelosi at Netanyahu's address (Photo: AFP)
"The people of Israel have spoken," she said at a news conference. "I respect the results that they have produced. I think that what they have produced will be a continued lively discussion about the peace process."
Netanyahu won a bitterly contested election after shifting position to abandon a commitment to negotiate a Palestinian state, the basis of more than two decades of Middle East peacemaking.
Pelosi attended Netanyahu's controversial speech early this. However, she said after the Israeli leader's remarks that she was "near tears" of anger during his speech, describing it as arrogant and disrespectful.
One Wednesday, she said the US relationship with Israel is strong, and would remain so.
"It doesn't depend on personalities. It's about values that we share. And we look forward to continuing our work together," she said. She also noted that Netanyahu had not discussed the peace process during his visit to Washington two weeks ago.
"Perhaps it will emerge now in the discussion," she said.
Reuters and the AFP contributed to this report.
