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Netanyahu gets White House invitation as Israeli leaders congratulate Trump
Israeli leaders responded to Donald Trump’s victory, sending their congratulations to the US President-elect.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Trump “a true friend of the State of Israel”, adding that “we will work together to advance the security, stability and peace in our region” and that the unique alliance between the two countries will reach new heights during Trump’s administration.
The Times reports that Netanyahu was the first foreign leader Trump spoke to following his surprise election victory against Hillary Rodham Clinton. Netanyahu’s office later announced that during the conversation “President-elect Trump invited Prime Minister Netanyahu to a meeting in the United States at the first opportunity”.
President Reuven Rivlin also sent greetings to Trump. He said: “I want to congratulate President-elect Donald Trump, his family, and all the American people who have once again shown the world it is the greatest democracy”.
Opening yesterday’s parliamentary session, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein commented: “The relations between the United States and Israel have always been close and warm, and I am convinced that they will continue to be in the Trump era.”
Opposition leader Isaac Herzog sent “warm wishes to the President of the strongest and biggest global power: Donald J. Trump”. Placing Trump’s triumph in a wider context, he added: “Trump’s election is the continuation of a social, economic and political tsunami that we’ve seen in many countries, which will also bring about change in Israel.”
Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid also congratulated Trump, saying: “We look forward to working with President-elect Trump and building on the incredibly strong ties which bind our two nations together.”
Jewish Home leader, Education Minister Naftali Bennett welcomed Trump’s election. He described it as “a tremendous opportunity for Israel to immediately announce its intention to renege on the idea of establishing Palestine in the heart of the country,” saying that such a position in Trump’s platform is “Salient, simple and clear. The era of the Palestinian state is over”.