Netanyahu, Obama
Netanyahu, ObamaIsrael news photo: Flash 90

The White House on Wednesday congratulated Israel on its election, and said President Barack Obama was likely to soon call Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Obama's spokesman Jay Carney declined to offer a commentary on the election results, pending the period of coalition building that will now take place.

"We congratulate the Israeli people on their election," Carney said."I think it's very likely the president will be speaking with Prime Minister Netanyahu."

Carney reiterated that Washington also wanted to see direct talks between the two sides.

"We believe that what needs to take place is direct negotiations between the two parties that address the final-status issues and that result in a two-state solution that provides the sovereignty that the Palestinian people deserve and the security that the Israeli people and Israel deserves," he said.