White House: No change in US 'approach' to Israel
Washington says surprise coalition between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and the Kadima will not make it change its 'approach' to its close Mideast ally
A surprise coalition in Israel between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and the center-right Kadima party will not make Washington change its "approach" to its close Mideast ally, the White House said Tuesday.
"A new coalition in Israel will certainly not affect our policy approach, and we continue to have very good relations with leaders in Israel... we provide significant support for and coordination with Israel's military on security interests," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.
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The United States also shares "a lot of information when it comes to intelligence, and we will work very closely with the Israelis," Carney told journalists aboard Air Force One as it took President Barack Obama to Albany, New York where he was to deliver a speech.
The agreement to form what will be Israel's seventh national unity government was to be put to a vote in the Knesset Tuesday, and if approved would put Netanyahu at the helm of a ruling coalition with an overwhelming 94 votes in the 120-seat parliament.
Netanyahu said the agreement would give greater stability to the coalition, which is led by his rightwing Likud party.
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