Israeli Leaders Congratulate Donald Trump
JERUSALEM, Israel – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement Wednesday morning congratulating America's president-elect.
"I congratulate Donald Trump on being elected the 45th president of the United States of America," Netanyahu's statement read. "President-elect Trump is a true friend of the State of Israel, and I look forward to working with him to advance security, stability and peace in our region.
"The ironclad bond between the United States and Israel is rooted in shared values, buttressed by shared interests and driven by a shared destiny," he continued. "I am confident that President-elect Trump and I will continue to strengthen the unique alliance between our two countries and bring it to ever greater heights."
Israelis on both sides of the political spectrum congratulated the president-elect.
Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (Likud) extended "best wishes" to Americans, while opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union) offered "warm congratulations."
Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett (Jewish Home) predicted the unique relationship between the two countries would strengthen.
"We are sure the special relationship between the United States and Israel will continue, and even grow stronger."
Bennett said Trump's policy on Judea and Samaria should be adopted by Israel, in effect putting to rest the failed two-state vision.
"Trump's victory is an opportunity for Israel to immediately retract the notion of a Palestinian state in the center of the country, which would hurt our security and just cause. This is the position of the president-elect, as written in his platform, and it should be our policy, plain and simple," Bennett said, adding "The era of a Palestinian state is over."
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked called Trump "a true friend of Israel," saying his commitment to relocate the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem would undergird the strong ties between the two long-time allies.
"This is an opportunity for the American government to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem, the eternal capital of Israel. That would symbolize the strong, friendly ties between the two countries."
