The Arab world on Wednesday was closely following the election in Israel. "The Israeli election: A fight to the end for every vote," Saudi paper Asharq al-Awsat said in its headline, noting in its story the concern in Israel that the election would fail to break the political deadlock in the country and force a fifth election.
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Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar said, "No surprises in fourth election: Bibi at the mercy of Bennett." The Hezbollah-affiliated paper said the odds of anyone forming a 61-seat majority were low. The report also noted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while campaigning in Beersheba on Tuesday, was whisked away by his security detail when a rocket was fired from Gaza into southern Israel.
The Hamas terrorist organization also responded to the election results in Israel.
"We don't trust any changes in Israeli society," said the group's spokesperson, Fawzi Barhoum. "It is all the byproduct of the Zionist project, the goal of which is to entrench the foundations of the Zionist entity at the expense of Palestinian rights. The identity of the next Israeli government won't change the nature of the conflict with this occupier, and it is deemed an occupying entity that must be resisted. [The election results] won't affect our people's struggle, until we defeat this occupation," Barhoum said.
Emirati newspaper The National quoted a café owner in Jerusalem, who said: "I think Netanyahu is truly a good manager, but I don't trust him with absolute power. I want him to have good partners."
The paper also said the Likud party will need support from smaller parties to secure a Knesset majority, including from the Religious Zionist party.
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