Federica Mogherini, the European Union foreign policy chief, released a statement congratulating Prime Minister Netanyahu following Thursday's formation of the coalition following the March 17th national elections."The European Union will continue to work together with Israel on a mutually beneficial bilateral relationship as well as on important regional and global issues of joint interest," she said in the statement. Mogherini emphasized the importance of re-opening the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks with the goal of creating an independent Palestinian state. "The Israeli people and the Palestinian people deserve not only a future, but also a present of peace after too much suffering," she said. "I am ready to personally engage in order to facilitate further progress and look forward to working with the new government."
