Abbas hopes to resume peace negotiations with new government

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed hope for renewed peace negotiations following the formation of a new Israeli government after recent elections. During a visit to Nicosia, he stated that the new government could provide an opportunity for serious political dialogue. The Israeli elections did not yield a parliamentary majority for either the Likud party led by Benjamin Netanyahu or the opposition coalition Yashar. With over 90% of votes counted, Arab parties achieved a historic number of seats, totaling 19. Israeli President Isaac Herzog urged parties to engage in open consultations to form a government and avoid further elections. Peace talks have been stalled since 2014, with significant disagreements remaining.