Obama Aide Stops Short of Congratulating Netanyahu on Vote
by Toluse Olorunnipa
8:49 AM EDT March 18, 2015
(Bloomberg) -- The Obama administration stopped short of congratulating Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his party’s election victory, sitting on the sidelines until the coalition-building process plays out following Tuesday’s vote.
“We’re going to give space to the formation of that coalition government,” David Simas, director of political strategy and outreach, told CNN Wednesday. “We’re not going to weigh in one way or another.”
Simas didn’t mention Netanyahu, who declared victory, by name. Instead, he congratulated the Israeli people for the “democratic process.”
A Netanyahu victory complicates two of President Barack Obama’s foreign policy objectives -- a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians that includes a two-state solution and an accord to limit Iran’s nuclear program.
As the election approached, Netanyahu advocated forcefully against both, including in a speech to the U.S. Congress last month warning against the Iran nuclear deal. At the time, Obama declined to meet with Netanyahu, citing the vote.
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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-18/obama-aide-congratulates-israelis-not-netanyahu-on-election
