This photo taken on Nov. 2, 2022 shows former Israeli Prime Minister and leader of the Likud party Benjamin Netanyahu (C) at the party headquarters in Jerusalem. (JINI via Xinhua)
The victory of the right-wing in the Israeli elections is a result of growing extremism in Israeli society, and will have a negative effect on resolving Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, say Palestinian analysts.
RAMALLAH, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian analysts have ruled out any serious or real breakthrough in resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict after former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing bloc secured a clear majority in the parliamentary elections held on Nov. 1.
They said in separate interviews with Xinhua that the victory of the right-wing in the Israeli general elections is a result of the growing extremism in Israeli society, and will have a negative effect on resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israeli soldiers aim their weapons at Palestinian protesters during clashes in the West Bank city of Hebron, on Oct. 25, 2022. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)
On Thursday, the Israeli Central Elections Committee announced in an official statement that the Netanyahu bloc consisting of the Likud and other right-wing and religious parties obtained 64 seats in the 120-seat parliament while the bloc of outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid won 51 seats.
Hani Al-Masri, director of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy Research and Strategic Studies, warned that the return of Netanyahu's right-wing forces to rule in partnership with "extremist symbols" is "worse than all expectations."
"Forming a government by Netanyahu with the participation of religious right-wing parties is dangerous and will lead to the displacement of the Palestinians from inside Israel to the West Bank and from the West Bank to abroad," he said.
A Palestinian protester uses a slingshot to hurl a stone at Israeli soldiers during clashes after a protest against the expanding of Jewish settlements in Kufr Qadoom village near the West Bank city of Nablus, on June 10, 2022. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)
Al-Masri expected a rise in "Israeli aggression against the Palestinians," including "the Judaization of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque at greater and faster rates and the imposition of Israeli laws on the West Bank."
In the first official Palestinian comment on the election results, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye said the Palestinian leadership and people have no illusions that the ballot boxes could produce a partner for peace (with the Palestinians).
"The results confirmed what we were certain that we have no partner in Israel for peace amid the aggressive Israeli policies and practices our people are suffering from, which violate all international decisions and laws," he said in a statement on Wednesday.
A boy mourns during a funeral of Palestinians killed by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank city of Nablus, on Oct. 28, 2022. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
Sadeq Al-Shafi'ee, a political analyst from the West Bank city of Ramallah, expected the new Israeli government to "use the most extreme degree of excessive violence to deal with the Palestinians trying to confront occupation."
"The Israeli voters' choice of the right is evidence of rejecting any peace agreement with the Palestinians, or negotiation over the establishment of a Palestinian national entity on any part," he explained.
Abdulmajid Sweilem, a Ramallah-based political analyst, suggested the Palestinians "get rid of the signed agreements," because "the next Israeli government is not only a non-partner but hostile to peace."
"What the elections in Israel resulted in is an opportunity for Fatah Movement led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and (Gaza's ruling movement) Hamas to rise up against reality, end their internal division and make real unity to confront the coming future," Sweilem said. ■
