US vows continued push for Middle East peace after Israeli vote

President Obama remains committed to Israeli-Palestinian peace regardless of the final outcome of Tuesday's election in Israel, White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

“The United States remains committed, as it has been for a long time, to working with the parties to press forward the goal of a two state solution,” Carney said at his press briefing. “That has not changed, and it will not change.” 

Benjamin Netanyahu, who has had a rocky relationship with Obama, will stay on as prime minister but his conservative Likud party lost seats. As a result, Netanyahu may reach out to the centrist Yesh Atid party, which has called for renewing stalled two-state peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

Still, the White House isn't banking on success.

“There is no question that it's hard work, and -- and for that reason alone, I would refrain from predicting, you know success over the next four years,” Carney said. “I think we will simply continue to work on it.”