The White House has sent a warning of sorts to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu... who is now on course to be the longest-serving Israeli leader.<br />This suggests a widening rift between the U.S. and Israel... over Palestinian statehood. <br />Sohn Jung-in has more.<br /><br />The surprise victory has stoked concern in the international community.<br />The White House, which had remained silent since the election, gave its first public response on Netanyahu's triumph Wednesday, saying a new rift has opened between U.S. and Israeli leaders.<br />White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Washington would have to reevaluate its position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the region, saying that it has been the U.S.'s policy for more than 20 years to seek a two-state solution in resolving the issue.<br />His comments came after Netanyahu had promised in the final hours of campaigning... not to allow the creation of a Palestinian state while he is in power.<br />After the victory, Netanyahu's Likud Party said it would work quickly to form a new coalition government, within two to three weeks.<br /><br />Earnest added that the White House was "deeply concerned" that the Likud party was seeking to marginalize Israel's minority Arab citizens.<br />On the election day, Netanyahu had issued a warning in a Facebook message to voters in his party that left-leaning parties were on the brink of toppling the Israeli government by busing Arab-Israeli voters to the polls,... saying that the Arab voters are "coming out in droves."<br /><br />While Secretary of State John Kerry has called Netanyahu to congratulate him on the victory, President Barack Obama has yet to reach out to him.<br />Sohn Jung-in, Arirang News.
