Leaders of several global Jewish organizations congratulated Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, after the Likud party chairman was re-elected as premier during the 20th Knesset elections. 

“Israel is one of the world’s great democracies and once again, its people have shown this through a free and open democratic election. Prime Minister Netanyahu has demonstrated his tremendous leadership abilities over the years along with his incredible dedication to the Jewish state of Israel,” World Jewish Congress (WJC) president Ronald S. Lauder said in a first reaction.

“At a time that has seen a dangerous increase in anti-Semitic attacks throughout the world, the next few years will be a challenge for Jews everywhere, and I look forward to working with Prime Minister Netanyahu to make the world a safer place for all people.”

“I urge world leaders to respect the result of this democratic ballot and to work closely with Prime Minister Netanyahu and his new government in the months and years ahead,” Lauder continued. “In a volatile Middle East, Israel’s right to exist as a democratic, Jewish state must be safeguarded, the security situation in the Middle East must be improved and the government must ensure that Israel can continue to be the economic and scientific powerhouse it has become in the past decades.” 

Michael Siegal, chair of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)’s board of trustees, also congratulated Netanyahu. 

“On behalf of Jewish Federations throughout North America we congratulate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,” Siegal stated. “The high voter turnout and vibrant campaigning were demonstrations of the robustness of Israel¹s democratic system.”

“We also congratulate all of those who were elected to the Knesset yesterday,” he added. “We are looking forward to working with the future government.”