US President Joe Biden reiterated the US support for Israel’s security after the new PM took oath. He maintains that the US would work with Israel’s new government. This comes after Knesset ended Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12-year run as prime minister on Sunday.
A welcome statement from the US seeks to reaffirm US-Israel ties. The new government coalition is led by nationalist Naftali Bennett.
President Biden also spoke with Bennett on Sunday to offer his warm congratulations. Expressing his firm intent to deepen cooperation between the US and Israel, the leaders agreed to consult closely on all matters relating to regional security.
US statement comes after Naftali Bennett was on Sunday sworn in as Israel’s new Prime Minister.
The 49-year-old Bennett of the right-wing Yamina party took the oath of office after parliament (Knesset) voted on the new government led by him. The new government has 27 ministers and nine of them women. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
The US welcomes new govt in Israel
Moreover, Israel’s new government is an unprecedented coalition of ideologically divergent political parties from right, left and Centre to an Arab party.
“United States remains unwavering in its support for Israel’s security,” Biden said in an earlier statement. “My administration is fully committed to working with the new Israeli government to advance security, stability, and peace for Israelis, Palestinians, and people throughout the broader region.”
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken issuing statements also welcomed their counterparts in Israel.
Bennett is a former defense minister and a high-tech millionaire. He won by a thin 60-59 majority vote in the Knesset.
But how far this unlikely coalition will go, only time will tell. The Arab Islamist party Raam also cannot promise its loyalty to the fullest for obvious reasons.
As it had only agreed to join the coalition after receiving assurances about improvements to the Arab minority’s land and housing rights. Moreover, the region has been experiencing unrest owing to the Palestine-Arab-Jews conflict.
ALSO READ | Israel-Palestine Tensions: A Brief History Of The Middle East Region