Rise of Israeli centrists raises hopes for peace talks

JERUSALEM -- The unexpectedly strong showing by a new centrist party in Israel's parliamentary election has raised hopes for reviving peace talks with Palestinians that have languished for four years under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Political newcomer Yair Lapid, the surprise kingmaker, is already being courted by a weakened Netanyahu, who needs his support to form a ruling coalition. Lapid has said he will sit in the government only if the peace process is restarted.

But following a campaign in which the Palestinian issue was largely ignored, it remains unclear how hard Lapid will push the issue.

Tuesday's election ended in a deadlock, with Netanyahu's hard-line religious bloc and the rival bloc of centrist, secular and Arab parties each with 60 seats, nearly complete results show. Polls had universally forecast a majority of seats going to the right-wing bloc.

While Netanyahu, as head of the largest single party in parliament, is poised to remain prime minister, it appears impossible for him to put together a majority coalition without reaching across the aisle.

Lapid, whose Yesh Atid (There is a Future) captured 19 seats, putting it in second place, is the most likely to join him. In a gesture to Netanyahu, Lapid said there would not be a "blocking majority," in which opposition parties prevent the prime minister from forming a government. The comment virtually guarantees that Netanyahu will be prime minister, with Lapid a major partner.

Netanyahu, 63, said Wednesday he would work to create a wide coalition stretching across the political divide.

Speaking to reporters, he said the election proved "the Israeli public wants me to continue leading the country" and put together "as broad a coalition as possible."

Lapid, 49, a former TV talk-show host, has portrayed himself as an average Israeli and champion of a middle class struggling to make ends meet. Though committed to pursuing peace, his campaign focused heavily on pocketbook issues, raising speculation that Lapid might abandon the peace agenda for other concessions from Netanyahu.

In the West Bank city of Ramallah, Palestinian leaders said they were pleasantly surprised by the strong showing by Israel's moderates, but remained doubtful that would soften Netanyahu's policies.