Netanyahu’s election victory in Israel poses a “major challenge” to US policy in the Middle East.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s victory in Israel’s latest election has drawn a lukewarm response from the US as politicians ponder the implications for foreign policy in the Middle East.

Seated Prime Minister Yair Lapid recognized the election on Thursday Netanyahu after it became clear that the former prime minister’s coalition would allow him to regain his place as the country’s leader.

But Netanyahu’s victory comes as President Joe Biden sits in the White House, representing a somewhat awkward convergence of US and Israeli ideals and political goals.

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Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas, was first US politician to congratulate Netanyahu of his victory, tweeting that there was a “strong” turnout in Israel and the people made a “clear choice” to re-elect Netanyahu.

And Cruz told Fox News Digital that Congress can and should take action to ensure Israel and the US keep pace on key issues like maritime borders and territorial integrity.

Benjamin Netanyahu addresses an audience in Bnei Brak, Israel, October 20.  29, 2022.

Benjamin Netanyahu addresses an audience in Bnei Brak, Israel, October 20. 29, 2022.
(Amir Levy/Getty Images)

“The Israeli people have made a clear choice in favor of Benjamin Netanyahu to lead their country again and form a government,” Cruz said. “Unfortunately, the Biden administration has spent the past two years pressuring and undermining our Israeli allies, including most recently to cede maritime territory to Hezbollah.

“There is no doubt that now they will try to increase this pressure,” Cruz continued. “Congress can and will provide aggressive oversight to ensure this does not happen and to preserve the US-Israeli bond.”

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The statement contrasted sharply with statements made US Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides and the White House repeating the same statement that they are “delighted to see such a high voter turnout in the Knesset elections” but that “it is too early to tell the exact composition of the next government coalition until all votes have been counted.” .”

Nides later revealed that he had a phone conversation with Netanyahu during which Nides “congratulated him on his victory and said I looked forward to working together to keep the bond intact.”

FILE - Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid attends a cabinet meeting at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, Sunday, Oct. 10.  October 23, 2022.  Israel is holding its fifth national election in less than four years, and the race is once again taking the form of a referendum on former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's suitability for office.  (Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP, file)

FILE – Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid attends a cabinet meeting at the prime minister’s office in Jerusalem, Sunday, Oct. 10. October 23, 2022. Israel is holding its fifth national election in less than four years, and the race is once again taking the form of a referendum on former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s suitability for office. (Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP, file)
((Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP, file))

Meanwhile, the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban posted a photo about himself with Netanyahu’s new book “Bibi: My Story” and wrote: “What a great victory for Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel! Difficult times require strong leaders. Welcome back!”

The new Prime Minister of Italy also joined in the congratulations. Georgia Meloni who tweeted “Congratulations to Mazel Tov @netanyahu on your election success. I am ready to strengthen our friendship and our bilateral relations in order to better cope with our common problems.”

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Israel and Lebanon just last month agreed on a new deal on their common maritime frontier this would result in countries sharing rights to subsea natural gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean.

Lapid called the deal “a historic achievement that will bolster Israel’s security, inject billions into the Israeli economy and ensure the stability of our northern border,” but Netanyahu vowed to “neutralize” the deal if his party regained control in November.

President Joe Biden shakes hands with Benjamin Netanyahu during a recent visit to Israel.

President Joe Biden shakes hands with Benjamin Netanyahu during a recent visit to Israel.
(Gideon Markovich/TPS)

State Department spokesman Ned Price on Wednesday said the US would support the deal, which they worked for several years help the broker, and called on all Israeli government officials to “continue to share the values ​​of an open democratic society.”

“Because it was in the interest of both countries, it was in the deep interest of the United States,” Price said of the deal. “We’re aiming for a more stable, more integrated region, and this maritime boundary — the agreement on it — helps that.”

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A possible more far-right composition of the Israeli government, in which Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben-Gvir will have a prominent role, has already raised concerns among more left-wing administrations.

Two officials told Axios that the Biden administration was “unlikely” to engage with Ben-Gvir, whom they called a “Jewish racist.” Ben-Gvir has said he wants to become minister of internal security, making him responsible for police and holy site policy in Jerusalem.

Israeli far-right MP Itamar Ben-Gvir is likely to become a minister in Netanyahu's new government after a successful election.

Israeli far-right MP Itamar Ben-Gvir is likely to become a minister in Netanyahu’s new government after a successful election.
(AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

“Because of the likely Composition of the next Netanyahu government“Some major US national security issues are coming up very quickly,” Joel Rubin, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State under former President Barack Obama, told Fox News Digital.

Rubin said Netanyahu’s work on the Abraham Accord, under which Israel negotiated four peace agreements with selected countries in the Middle East, would face “immediate stress” from a “more right-wing” approach to the “Palestinian question.”

“These countries, especially the UAE (United Arab Emirates), have already expressed concern that Israel is taking a more right-wing stance on the Palestinian issue, as well as concern that members of its potential cabinet have used hostile language against Arabs in the past. Rubin explained. “It will be difficult for the Biden administration to navigate this space, which will require close coordination with Netanyahu himself personally as he tries to manage a complex ruling coalition for Israeli-Arab relations.”

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“Failure to protect this promising relationship will increase the risk of conflict in the region, which will never be a good outcome for anyone’s security, including the United States,” he added.

Netanyahu, in a recent interview with Fox News Digital, said he believes Arab countries “lost interest” in the Palestinian issue “a long time ago” which “facilitated the Abraham Accords.”