Benjamin Netanayhu to NBC News: I’m Not Racist

Despite simmering tensions between newly reelected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Barack Obama, Bibi assured NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell that the U.S. and Israeli were still strong allies.

“There are so many areas where we must work together with the United States,” he said in his first U.S. interview since a come-from-behind victory on Tuesday. “America has no greater ally than Israel and Israel has no greater ally than the United States.”

The Obama/Netanyahu relationship has never been great, but it has significantly worsened in the past year, with White House aides reportedly calling Bibi a “chicken shit” and Netanyahu accepting a speaking invitation from the House of Representatives. Netanyahu has not received a congratulatory call from Obama, though he told Mitchell he was sure it was forthcoming.

Netanyahu also brushed aside allegations that he had stoked racial tensions in the days leading up to the election, including comments about Arab voters. When asked if he was racist, he replied, “I’m not.”

The full interview will air Thursday afternoon on Andrea Mitchell Reports.

Watch a portion of it below, via NBC News:

[Image via NBC/screengrab]

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