<p>US President Joe Biden on Monday congratulated former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his election win and said Washington would watch closely as Netanyahu forms a government, which will likely include religious and far-right parties.</p>.<p>White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said that Biden "reaffirmed the strength of the bilateral partnership and underscored his unwavering support for Israeli security."</p>.<p>"We will continue to closely monitor the government formation process," Jean-Pierre said.</p>.<p>Netanyahu, after the call, wrote on Twitter he told Biden that they can "achieve more peace agreements and deal with the threat of Iranian aggression."</p>.<p>Israel, during Netanyahu's previous term, normalised ties with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain under US sponsorship.</p>.<p>Israel's fifth election in less than four years confirmed a comeback for Netanyahu, now buoyed by smaller ultranationalist and religious parties. His victorious bloc includes lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir, a West Bank settler and former member of Kach, a Jewish militant group on Israeli and US terrorist watchlists.</p>.<p>While Washington has publicly reserved judgment pending the new Israeli coalition's formation, a State Department spokesperson on Wednesday emphasised the countries' "shared values."</p>.<p>Netanyahu still has to be officially tasked by the Israeli president with forming a government, a process that could take weeks.</p>
<p>US President Joe Biden on Monday congratulated former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his election win and said Washington would watch closely as Netanyahu forms a government, which will likely include religious and far-right parties.</p>.<p>White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said that Biden "reaffirmed the strength of the bilateral partnership and underscored his unwavering support for Israeli security."</p>.<p>"We will continue to closely monitor the government formation process," Jean-Pierre said.</p>.<p>Netanyahu, after the call, wrote on Twitter he told Biden that they can "achieve more peace agreements and deal with the threat of Iranian aggression."</p>.<p>Israel, during Netanyahu's previous term, normalised ties with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain under US sponsorship.</p>.<p>Israel's fifth election in less than four years confirmed a comeback for Netanyahu, now buoyed by smaller ultranationalist and religious parties. His victorious bloc includes lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir, a West Bank settler and former member of Kach, a Jewish militant group on Israeli and US terrorist watchlists.</p>.<p>While Washington has publicly reserved judgment pending the new Israeli coalition's formation, a State Department spokesperson on Wednesday emphasised the countries' "shared values."</p>.<p>Netanyahu still has to be officially tasked by the Israeli president with forming a government, a process that could take weeks.</p>