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Israel election: US concern over 'divisive' rhetoric | Israel election: US concern over 'divisive' rhetoric |
(35 minutes later) | |
The White House says it is deeply concerned at what it called the "divisive rhetoric" in the Israeli election, which ended in a surprise win for Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party. | The White House says it is deeply concerned at what it called the "divisive rhetoric" in the Israeli election, which ended in a surprise win for Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party. |
During campaigning, Mr Netanyahu said he would not allow the creation of a Palestinian state if re-elected. | During campaigning, Mr Netanyahu said he would not allow the creation of a Palestinian state if re-elected. |
The US, UN and EU have all urged him to continue with the two-state solution. | The US, UN and EU have all urged him to continue with the two-state solution. |
Mr Netanyahu aims to build a new coalition government within two to three weeks, his party says. | Mr Netanyahu aims to build a new coalition government within two to three weeks, his party says. |
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said: "It has been the policy of the United States for more than 20 years that a two-state solution is the goal of resolving the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians." | |
The US would "re-evaluate our approach" in the wake of Mr Netanyahu's comments ruling out a Palestinian state, he said. | |
Mr Earnest added that President Barack Obama was yet to congratulate Mr Netanyahu on his win but would do so in the coming days once he had been directed to form a government, as in previous elections. | |
UN spokeswoman Farhan Haq called on the new Israeli government to negotiate a peace that would create "a viable Palestinian state". | |
The EU foreign affairs chief, Federica Mogherini, congratulated Mr Netanyahu on his win and called for the re-launch of the Israel-Palestinian peace process. | |
Talks have been on hold since the last round collapsed a year ago. | |
Palestinian critics | |
The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, said he would work with any Israeli government that accepts the two-state solution, without which, he said, peace negotiations stood "no chance". | |
Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokesman for Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, said it was irrelevant who won the Israeli elections. | |
"We don't differentiate between Israeli parties because they are bound to deny our people's rights and continue the aggression on us," he said. | |
With almost all the votes counted, the latest tally gives Mr Netanyahu's Likud party 30 seats in the 120-seat parliament, the Knesset, with Zionist Union on 24 seats. | |
Mr Netanyahu has not yet been asked to form a government, but the win makes him most likely to be given the first opportunity by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. | |
The win comes as a surprise, as Likud trailed the Zionist Union in the latter stages of the campaign. | |
Likud said Mr Netanyahu had already spoken to parties he saw as possible coalition partners, including right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties and the centrist Kulanu, which won 10 seats. | |
Kulanu's support is likely to be essential, with its leader Moshe Kahlon offered the post of finance minister by Mr Netanyahu ahead of the vote. |