The election results could create an opportunity to renew peace talks, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas recently told Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.
“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 during a meeting with Christodoulides in Nicosia, according to Arab News.
The comments indicate that Abbas hopes Cyprus can play a role in pressuring Israel. Nicosia – alongside Greece – has grown increasingly close to Jerusalem over recent decades as part of a wider East Mediterranean shift.
Cyprus and Israel have signed new defense deals, and Cyprus has positive ties with the Arab states.
“We hope that, immediately after a new Israeli government is formed, we will be able to engage in dialogue together,” Abbas said.
Arab News indicated that the comments illustrate that the Palestinian leadership is watching developments in Israel. The question is, however, whether a new coalition would be willing or able to make significant policy changes.
The Israeli-Palestinian peace process has been largely frozen for decades. The last major US-backed negotiations, led by then-US secretary of state John Kerry, collapsed in 2014.
Since then, the political and security environment has changed dramatically. Abbas has headed the PA for 22 years with no elections, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has led Israel for 19 years.
Far-right calls for dismantling of PA
However, Jerusalem has shown no interest in working with Abbas. In fact, many voices on the far Right have suggested dismantling the PA. Notably, following the terror attack near Hebron earlier this month, many officials who visited the site pointed to the attack as an example of why the PA should be weakened.
Nevertheless, it continues to exercise limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank. Alongside this, Hamas’s October 7 attack and the subsequent Israel-Hamas War have transformed Israeli attitudes toward Palestinian security and governance.
Tensions and clashes in the West Bank have been increasing, and it is unclear how this trend could be reversed.
Still, Israeli security forces tend to work well with their PA counterparts on security issues. This reflects how the politicians may say one thing, but the reality on the ground is different.
Even if Israel replaces its prime minister, a new government would inherit these challenges.
In Israel, parties favorable to Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot might adopt a different diplomatic tone toward Ramallah. However, they would face pushback if they tried to do much more than that.
The composition of the coalition would also matter. Parties that agree on replacing Netanyahu might still have very different positions regarding the Palestinians, settlements, and negotiations.
Another aspect involves the White House, which would likely want to see progress in Gaza with the Board of Peace. This could mean enabling Palestinian technocrats to help people in Gaza become free of Hamas.
There is also the question of whether the Palestinian leadership is positioned to negotiate a comprehensive agreement.
Abbas’s presidency has faced questions of legitimacy, particularly because Palestinians have not held national elections since 2006, fearing a Hamas victory.
The division between Fatah, which dominates the PA, and Hamas remains another major obstacle.
Any negotiations would need to address who represents Palestinians in Gaza, how the territory were to be governed, and whether Palestinian security institutions could prevent renewed attacks on Israel.
The Board of Peace has a technocratic team which has been largely prevented by Israel from entering Gaza and therefore has been waiting for the election results. A new logistics center has been built and is waiting for the International Stabilization Force for Gaza (ISF).
These questions cannot be resolved simply by changing the Israeli prime minister.
Abbas may see an opportunity to reestablish the PA as a diplomatic partner, particularly as international attention turns toward Gaza’s reconstruction and future governance. However, renewed dialogue is not the same as a real peace process.
The United States will play a central role in determining whether talks resume. The Trump administration has focused on regional diplomacy, the BoP initiative for Gaza, and broader efforts to reshape Middle Eastern relationships.
However, Washington is juggling a potential new conflict with Iran, as well as working on helping Israel with issues in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. The Trump administration can only do so much.
Countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have their own interests in the Palestinian issue.
Jordan is particularly concerned about developments in the West Bank, while Egypt has played a central role in Gaza diplomacy. Saudi Arabia has linked normalization with Israel to progress on the Palestinian question.
A new Israeli government could therefore reshape regional diplomacy, especially if Washington sees an opening to link Israeli-Palestinian discussions with normalization and reconstruction initiatives.
Progress could occur at several levels. The most immediate would be renewed contacts between Israeli and Palestinian officials, improved economic cooperation, and measures to reduce tensions in the West Bank.
Symbolic dialogue and positive statements can have meaning. A more ambitious initiative could involve negotiations and enabling people in Gaza to leave the Hamas zone of control where two million people are still trapped.
Chances for major Israeli-Palestinian talks low
The chances for any major talks taking place with the Palestinians remain low. Abbas is aging, and it is not clear who will replace him. He has again postponed elections, this time until next year.
Post-October 7, Israel is not ready to take any security risks.
Abbas’s comments suggest that Ramallah wants to keep the possibility of negotiations alive. Whether this leads anywhere will depend on the next Israeli government’s priorities, the Palestinian leadership’s ability to make commitments, and the US’s willingness to invest in a renewed process.
The most likely initial breakthrough may be the resumption of dialogue, though the chances of that occurring appear slim.
The meeting in Cyprus matters, as both sides trust Nicosia, but it remains to be seen what developments are possible.