Mahmoud Abbas seeks peace talks with new Israeli government

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that he hoped the formation of a new Israeli government would allow peace talks to resume.

Abbas spoke during a meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia. He said Palestinians had long extended a hand to Israel to achieve peace and hoped dialogue could begin after a new Israeli government is formed.

The comments came after Israel's election left the path to a governing majority uncertain. With almost all ballots counted, neither the bloc of veteran Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor the opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot appeared able to secure a majority in parliament.

The outcome could lead to weeks of coalition negotiations. The Israeli-Palestinian peace process has been stalled for years.