Israeli Election: Rivals 'two faces of same Zionist coin'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.For the first time in half a century, Arab readers were treated to massive press coverage of an Israeli election.
The Palestinian press showed some division along Israeli political lines. Elsewhere, reactions were more confused.
An editorial in the Gaza-based Palestinian daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadidah, said a Likud victory with Binyamin Netanyahu as Prime Minister would be better for the Palestinians since his policy would inevitably lead to "international isolation of Israel and pressures from the United States similar to the pressures that isolated [the last Likud prime minister Yitzhak] Shamir".
But the majority of Palestinian papers quoted the Palestine leader Yasser Arafat's call for Israeli Arab voters "to side with the peace camp".
In much of the Arab press news gave way to commentary. Commentators accused Israel of aggression, and took a cynical view of the election as a diversion from the suffering of the Palestinians. "Today, the Arabs study, examine and discuss the Israeli election results, as if there was a difference between Likud and Labour consideration of Arab lives," was the scornful comment of Jihad El Khazen, editor of Al-Haya. "[Shimon] Peres is no different from Netanyahu," said a leader in the Qatari daily Al-Orouba, "they are two faces of the same Zionist coin".
Israel's partners in the peace process, who are bracing themselves to deal with Mr Netanyahu, had a more guarded reaction.
"Policies, not personalities, would decide the fate of the Middle East peace process," said a commentary on Cairo radio.
The Jordanian paper Al-Rai said what mattered was the next Israeli government's commitment to continue the peace talks, regardless of the election results.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments