WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s re-election after a national vote was a good sign for peace.
Trump made the remark to reporters at the White House.
Netanyahu secured a clear path to re-election on Wednesday, and a record fifth term in office, with religious-rightist parties set to hand him a parliamentary majority, despite a close contest against his main centrist challenger, a vote tally showed.
During the election campaign, Netanyahu highlighted his close relationship with Trump, who delighted Israelis and angered Palestinians by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017 and by moving the U.S. Embassy to the holy city in May 2018.
The last round of U.S.-brokered peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians collapsed in 2014.
Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Bernadette Baum