Merkel, Johnson, Trudeau all promise to continue to expand ties under new government that ousted Netanyahu after 12 years in power
World leaders were quick to congratulate Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on forming a new government on Sunday.
The United States led the way, with phone calls from US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday congratulated Bennett and Lapid after their alliance of parties ousted Benjamin Netanyahu and formed a new government.
“Germany and Israel are connected by a unique friendship that we want to strengthen further. With this in mind, I look forward to working closely with you,” Merkel said in a message addressed to Bennett and shared by her spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer on Twitter.
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also expressed his hopes “to continued cooperation on security, trade and climate change, and working together to secure peace in the region.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent his congratulations Sunday to Bennett, saying he “looks forward” to working with him.
Congratulations on the formation of a new Israeli government, Prime Minister @NaftaliBennett and Alternate Prime Minister @YairLapid. Together, let’s explore ways to further strengthen the relationship between Canada and Israel. https://t.co/Rcw2UDXpBk
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) June 13, 2021
“Canada and Israel are close friends bound together by shared democratic values, a long history of cooperation, and vibrant people-to-people ties,” Trudeau said in a statement released by his office.
The Prime Minister reiterated that Ottawa “remains steadfast in its commitment to a two-state solution, with Israelis and Palestinians living in peace, security, and dignity – without fear and with their human rights respected.”
He also thanked Netanyahu, who had been in power for 12 years before being ousted on Sunday, “for his valuable partnership over the years, at a time when Canada and Israel achieved a great deal together.”
EU Council President Charles Michel also congratulated the new government.
“Looking forward to strengthen(ing) the (EU-Israel) partnership for common prosperity and towards lasting regional peace & stability,” he tweeted.
The European Council represents the European Union’s member states.
Also expressing support was Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. “I look forward to working with you. Austria is committed to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state and will continue to stand by Israel‘s side,” he tweeted.
Thank you @sebastiankurz.
We look forward to welcoming you to Jerusalem again soon and to continue building on the strong relationship between our two countries. https://t.co/2C7oAln4ig
— יאיר לפיד – Yair Lapid???? (@yairlapid) June 13, 2021
Bennett is taking over at the helm of an Israeli government pieced together by an eight-party coalition, united largely by their opposition to Netanyahu.
In a Knesset speech before the vote, the 49-year-old Bennett promised the new government, a coalition of ideologically divergent parties, “represents all of Israel.”
The diverse anti-Netanyahu bloc was cobbled together by the secular centrist Lapid, a former TV presenter.
It spans the political spectrum, with three right-wing, two centrist, and two left-wing parties, and even an Arab Islamic party.
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