Could Israel's elections lead to a breakthrough with the Palestinians? Abbas says it can - analysis

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas expressed hope that Israel's upcoming elections could create an opportunity to renew peace talks, saying the PA has been extending a hand to Israel for years. The article assesses that major talks remain unlikely due to security concerns, Abbas's age, and the lack of Palestinian elections since 2006.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has expressed hope that Israel's upcoming elections could create an opportunity to renew peace talks. Speaking during a meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia, Abbas said: "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." He added that he hopes dialogue can begin immediately after a new Israeli government is formed. The article notes that the Israeli-Palestinian peace process has been largely frozen since 2014, and that far-right voices in Israel have called for dismantling the Palestinian Authority. While a new Israeli government might adopt a different diplomatic tone, the piece assesses that major talks remain unlikely due to security concerns, Abbas's age, the lack of Palestinian elections since 2006, and the division between Fatah and Hamas. The United States, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE all have interests in the issue, but Washington is also managing potential conflict with Iran and other regional challenges.