Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed hope on Sunday that the formation of a new Israeli government could lead to the resumption of peace talks between Israel and Palestine. Speaking during a meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia, Abbas emphasized the Palestinian leadership’s longstanding efforts to reach a peaceful resolution.
“For many years now, we have been extending a hand to the Israeli side in order to achieve peace with them, so that Israel and Palestine may live in security, stability and peace,” Abbas said. He added that negotiations could begin soon after a new Israeli government is established.
Israel held a closely watched election that has yet to produce a clear majority. With nearly all ballots counted, neither the bloc led by incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor the opposition coalition headed by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot appeared to have secured enough seats to form a government outright. The result could lead to an extended period of coalition negotiations.
The Israeli-Palestinian peace process has remained stalled for several years amid deep-rooted disagreements and ongoing tensions. During Netanyahu’s tenure, settlement activity in the West Bank increased significantly, alongside a rise in violence affecting Palestinians. The West Bank remains under Israeli military occupation, with the Palestinian Authority exercising limited administrative control.
Ministers within Netanyahu’s hard-right coalition have openly advocated for policies including the annexation of parts of the West Bank, as well as measures aimed at encouraging Palestinian residents to leave the area and the Gaza Strip. Gaza has suffered devastating damage following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, which prompted a major Israeli military response led by Netanyahu’s government.
Since 1967, Israel has maintained control over the West Bank, where over 500,000 Israeli settlers live among roughly three million Palestinians. The international community widely regards the settlements as illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this characterization.
With the political future in Israel uncertain, Palestinian officials remain cautiously optimistic that dialogue can be renewed once a stable government is in place. However, the longstanding obstacles and recent escalations continue to pose significant challenges to any immediate breakthrough in the peace process.