US President Barack Obama has warned Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington will "re-assess" its policies after the prime minister's election win called into question crucial US diplomatic cover for Israel at the UN.
Two full days after Netanyahu's shock election victory, the White House said Obama called the Israeli leader to congratulate him - though the message was decidedly lukewarm.
Obama warned that the veteran Israeli leader's last-minute campaign pledge to oppose the creation of a Palestinian state and comments about Israeli Arabs voting in "droves" would force a rethink in Washington.
The US president called to congratulate Netanyahu "on his party's success in winning a plurality of Knesset seats", the White House said.
"The president told the prime minister that we will need to re-assess our options following the prime minister's new positions and comments regarding the two state solution," an administration official said on condition of anonymity.
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"They also discussed Prime Minister Netanyahu's comments about Israeli Arabs."
Even as Netanyahu scrambled to deny he had ruled out the creation of a Palestinian state - long the starting point for Middle East peace efforts and a cornerstone of US policy - the White House indicated it could withdraw its unwavering support for Israel at the UN.
The US - a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council - has opposed moves at the UN to recognise a Palestinian state, saying that must be part of a negotiated peace deal.
It has also shielded Israel from often Arab-led UN votes castigating the Jewish state for various actions, including alleged human rights abuses.
