As the results came trickling in on Tuesday, Israel’s incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hurriedly announced on social media that the people of his country had chosen him as their premier for the third time. However, this blatant affirmation of victory was, in the eyes of political commentators, a pathetic effort to veil an unexpected defeat. Mr Netanyahu still holds enough seats in the legislature that will ensure his remaining in office but a surge in voters’ centrist tendency has deprived him of his anticipated total triumph. He was so sure of his victory that he called early elections that were supposed to strengthen his hold on power. Instead, the voters have put him in an unpredictable jam. Benjamin Netanyahu formed an election alliance with ultra-nationalist Avigdor Lieberman. The coalition had secured 42 Knesset seats in the previous elections. In the current elections, they could claim only 30 seats. The elections brought an unpredictable surprise despite claims that it will be an uneventful one resulting in Mr. Netanyahu’s smooth re-election. The surprising success of centrist politician Yair Lapid who claimed a soaring number of parliamentary seats has caught everyone by surprise. Mr. Lapid’s party has secured around 20 seats that have firmly established it as a potent coalition building component in the days to come. Mr. Lapid has already made it clear that he will not become part of an alliance that does not intend to make peace with the Palestinians. From the Palestinian perspective, the current elections in Israel, like the ones before them, have changed little. The results are as much a surprise for them as they are for the rest of the world. An evident shift to the left in the Israeli electorate has done nothing to lift Palestinian spirits. The real source of Palestinian pessimism is that they do not expect a fundamental change in Israeli policy towards them no matter who comes to power. During the election campaign, it became evident that opposition to Benjamin Netanyahu was centered on his government’s socio-economic policies rather than his aversion to the peace process. Not a single political candidate dared present a workable alternate policy from the one that the Israelis are currently pursuing in the occupied territories. Palestinian gloom was further amplified by the formation of the Likud-Beiteinu alliance, which exemplified a radical shift in Israeli politics. The results of the elections have proved rather encouraging for the Palestinians. The right-wingers are still at the helm but their power has been reduced by voters’ rejection of the anti-peace policies of the incumbent government. This does not mean that Mr Netanyahu will be forced to abdicate the premiership. The Likud-Beiteinu alliance headed by Mr Netanyahu has the highest number of seats in the Knesset. He can still form a coalition government by securing a clear majority in the legislature. However, the results of the election may compel Tel Aviv to review its foreign policy, especially towards its staunchest ally — the United States — who seems to be losing patience with Israel’s settlement activities. Mr Netanyahu is not on very good terms with President Obama, a fact that has been exemplified on more than one occasion. Mr Netanyahu’s arrogant attitude towards the US president is regarded as one of the main reasons for his election misfortune since it is now evident that most Israelis want to maintain a close relationship with the US. Palestinian leaders’ reaction to the Israeli election results has been reasonably reserved until now, the official Palestinian line being that they have no intention of interfering in Israeli politics. However, Palestinians have always made it clear that they hope to see a government in Israel that respects their aspirations for a two-state solution. The root cause of the Palestinian stalemate is the Israeli practice of reaffirming their commitment to the peace process on the one hand, and building illegal settlements on the other, to be used as a fait accompli in any future negotiations with the Palestinians. Unfortunately, the world seems to buy Israeli rhetoric without questioning the continued theft of Palestinian land. To an extent the Palestinians themselves also share responsibility for their appalling situation. Despite their genuine aspirations for a free Palestinian state, they have always shied away from putting in the required efforts for the achievement of this objective. Due to internal disputes, they are unable to present a united political front like the Israelis who, despite bitter rivalries between themselves, always toe the same line as regards the Palestinian issue. Palestinian politicians need to sit down and formulate a specific set of demands that can be used as a basis for negotiations. They must also realise that time is running out on them with Israeli settlement expansion reducing the size of negotiable territory. The Palestinians must understand that in Israel’s latest elections, they were not the main issue. Rather, it was more about Israel’s domestic problems and its standoff with Iran. Soon, there will be a new government in the Jewish state. It is time that Palestinians put their act together and presented a solid unified front to Israel and the rest of the world. The writer is an investment banker and a freelance columnist for various publications