US President Joe Biden congratulated former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his victory in the Knesset (parliament) elections that took place last Tuesday.
This came during a phone call Biden had with Netanyahu 6 days after his victory was announced, according to a statement by the Likud party.
The Likud Party (32 seats) said that Biden told Netanyahu during the conversation, "We are brothers, we will make history together," according to what was reported by the Israeli Channel 13.
Addressing Netanyahu, the US president added, "My commitment to Israel is unquestionable. I bless you, my friend."
הנשיא ביידן התקשר ובירך אותי על הניצחון בבחירות ואמר שהברית בין ישראל לארה״ב איתנה מתמיד.
הודיתי לנשיא ביידן על ידידותו האישית שחובקת 40 שנה בינינו ועל המחויבות שלו למדינת ישראל.
אמרתי לו שבכוחנו להשיג הסכמי שלום נוספים וגם להתמודד עם האיום של התקופנות האיראנית.
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) November 7, 2022
For his part, Netanyahu told Biden - according to the statement - "We will achieve more historic peace agreements, they are within reach."
"My commitment to our alliance and our relationship is stronger than ever," the prospective Israeli prime minister added.
Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Karen Jean-Pierre said Biden "reaffirmed the strength of the bilateral partnership and reiterated his unwavering support for Israeli security."
"We will continue to closely monitor the government formation process," she added.
she came late
For its part, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said that the phone call between Biden and Netanyahu lasted 8 minutes.
It quoted US officials - whom it did not name - that the reason behind Biden's delay in congratulating Netanyahu was that the former was busy with field tours in preparation for the mid-term congressional elections scheduled for Tuesday.
She indicated that the call comes against the backdrop of Washington's concerns about the upcoming Netanyahu government, and the possibility of appointing the extremist Itamar Ben Gvir, head of the "Religious Zionism" party, as Minister of Internal Security.
"Netanyahu will have to make a decision if he continues the government's previous line of restoring relations with the Democratic Party," the Israeli newspaper said.
She added that it was uncertain that this would be possible due to "the resentment that Democrats feel" towards him and his partners.
In addition, it appears that the Biden administration will "take a hard line on everything related to settlement construction."
Prior to the elections, Ben Gvir stated that he asked Netanyahu to give him the internal security portfolio if a right-wing government was formed.
Ben Gvir had previously called for the displacement of Palestinians from their land, and caused an escalation of the situation in East Jerusalem after setting up a parliamentary office in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, and led settlers several times when they stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Last week, the United States called on the next Israeli government to respect the "rights of minorities."
State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters that his country's relationship with Israel has always been based on "our common interests, but most importantly our shared values," according to the Israeli newspapers, Yedioth Ahronoth and The Times of Israel.
The newspaper "The Times of Israel" said that Price's statement was a reaction to the rise of the far-right "Religious Zionism" party, which is expected to play a central role in forming the new government.