Brussels, 23/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - Saying that the EU awaits the formation of a new government in Israel with interest, following the parliamentary elections on 22 January, Maja Kocijancic, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, said on Wednesday 23 January that the EU is looking forward to working with it on the Middle East peace process. “We look forward to working with the new government both to further develop our relationship and to promote direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians”, she told EUROPE.
The leader of the S&D Group at the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda, from Austria, said that the election result with less convincing victory for Benjamin Netanyahu than forecast was “a demonstration of growing support for a real peace process”. In a press release published on 23 January, he added that “the European Union must come forward as an independent player with a new peace initiative - for all those who voted against Benjamin Netanyahu, and for all the people of Israel and Palestine”.
According to initial election results, Netanyahu's party, Likud-Israel Beiteinou, has won 31 of the 120 seats (as opposed to the 42 seats it currently has), the centrist Yesh Atid party has won 19, the Labour Party 15, the Arab parties 12, Jewish Homeland (supported by the settlers) and the ultraorthodox Sephardi party, Shass, have 11 seats each and the ultraorthodox Ashkenazi United Judaism of the Torah 7, HaTnouha and Meretz, 6 each, and Kadima 2. Voter turnout was close to 64%. (CG/trans/fl)