Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party has suffered significant losses in the recent general election in Israel, losing a quarter of its seats, though it is still the largest party. Labour gained seats but the biggest winner was the new Yesh Atid (There is a Future) Party which came second.
Although ambivalent on a settlements freeze and the future status of Jerusalem, Yesh Atid is committed to a two-state solution, a resumption of the peace process and renewed political negotiations with the Palestinians. Likud may be forced to include Yesh Atid in any coalition. ■