US signals readiness to work with Rivlin

The White House on Tuesday congratulated new Israeli president Reuven Rivlin on winning the post, indicating Israel and the US would continue to enjoy strong ties.

Rivlin, a hawkish lawmaker from the Likud party, beat out centrist candidate Meir Sheetrit in two rounds of Knesset balloting earlier in the day.

In a statement, US President Barack Obama praised Rivlin and looked forward to ties that would strengthen the two countries’ “unique relationship.”

“President-elect Rivlin has a long and dedicated record of public service and we look forward to continued strong ties, to the benefit of both our nations, under Mr. Rivlin’s presidency,” he said in a statement.

Rivlin has been a longtime supporter of Jewish settlements in the West Bank. While rejecting Palestinian independence, he has proposed a special union in which Jews and Arabs would hold common citizenship but vote for separate parliaments.

Although Rivlin will play no role in Israeli foreign policy, Abdullah Abdullah, a senior Palestinian official, said the election of a man with his views sent a bad message. “I don’t see how he will contribute anything to peacemaking in the region. He is opposed to the two-state solution,” he said.