White House Has Stern Words in Response to Netanyahu’s ‘Divisive Rhetoric’
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baumsaway/iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The White House issued a set of stern words for the recent rhetoric from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party ahead of and during Tuesday’s election.
“The U.S. and this administration are deeply concerned by divisive rhetoric that seeks to marginalize Arab-Israeli citizens,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters Wednesday. “It undermines the values and democratic ideals that have been important to our democracy and an important part of what binds the U.S. and Israel together.”
On Tuesday, as he was involved in a tight election race against the Zionist Union party, Netanyahu called for his supporters to turn out, as higher Arab voter turnout put his government “in danger.”
“We’ve talked a lot about how our shared values are an important part of what binds our two countries together and rhetoric that seeks to marginalize one section of their population is concerning,” Earnest said.
Secretary of State John Kerry called Netanyahu on Wednesday morning to congratulate him on his apparent election victory. No substantive issues were discussed on the call, a Senior State Department Official said, because of the ongoing process of government formation in Israel.
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