Biden greets Netanyahu for election win in phone call

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden called the Israeli leader "to congratulate him on his party's victory."

Biden also "reaffirmed the strength of the bilateral partnership and underscored his unwavering support for Israeli security," she said.

Netanyahu and right-wing allies secured a clear win in last week's vote, setting him up to form what may be the most right-wing government in Israeli history.

Netanyahu said in a statement that "the alliance between Israel and the US is stronger than ever."

He said he thanked Biden for his longtime friendship and commitment to Israel.

"I told him we can reach more peace agreements, and also deal with the threat of Iranian aggression," the Israeli leader said.

In a separate statement, Netanyahu's office said Biden had referred to the two as brothers who would make history together.

Biden and Netanyahu have a sometimes-complicated relationship that goes back decades, even as the men display some personal warmth toward each other. On issues such as reviving a nuclear program with Iran, arming Ukraine to combat Russia's invasion and the fate of Palestinians, the two lead governments with sometimes sharply differing views.

Netanyahu along with his far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies secured a clear win in Tuesday's vote, setting him up with 64 members of the 120-seat parliament.

The centrist bloc of outgoing caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid won 51 seats, marking a definitive win for Netanyahu and an end to Israel's unprecedented era of political deadlock, which forced five elections in less than four years.

Earlier Monday, Netanyahu met with Itamar Ben-Gvir, the extreme-right head of the Jewish Power faction, as part of the meetings that took place over the past two days with nearly all leaders of the bloc that would likely form the future coalition.

Ben-Gvir, whose election campaign focused on increasing the personal security of Israelis by using more force countering Palestinian unrest, has said he wants to be public security minister in the new government, a post that would put him in charge of the police.