Canada’s Trudeau congratulates Bennett, thanks Netanyahu

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sends his congratulations to the new head of the Israeli government, Naftali Bennett, saying that he “looks forward” to working with him.

“Canada and Israel are close friends bound together by shared democratic values, a long history of cooperation, and vibrant people-to-people ties,” Trudeau says in a statement released by his office.

The prime minister reiterates that Ottawa “remains steadfast in its commitment to a two-state solution, with Israelis and Palestinians living in peace, security, and dignity – without fear and with their human rights respected.”

He also thanks former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had been in power for 12 years before being ousted on Sunday, “for his valuable partnership over the years, at a time when Canada and Israel achieved a great deal together.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, and Moroccan King Mohammed VI, in Paris, November 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, Pool)