EU congratulates Olmert on electoral win

The European Union congratulated the electoral victory of acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Kadima party today and hoped a new Israeli government would push ahead efforts to bring peace to the Middle East.

In early reaction, Cristina Gallach, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana congratulated all parties in the parliamentary vote, adding that Solana would issue a reaction later today.