NICOSIA, October 29. /TASS/. The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is prepared to discuss peace with the Israeli government that will be formed following the Knesset elections held two days ago, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said ahead of talks with his Cypriot counterpart, Nikos Christodoulides, as part of a two-day working visit to Nicosia that began on Thursday.

"We are still awaiting the final results and the final form of the Israeli government" that will be established, but "as soon as it is formed, we are willing to discuss the issue of peace with them," noted the head of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), as quoted by the Cyprus Mail newspaper on its website.

Addressing Christodoulides, the Palestinian President remarked: "When [the new Israeli government] is formed, your supporting role - given your good intentions and the fact that you are a neighboring, friendly country - will be to work toward a peaceful dialogue that yields tangible, positive results."

"For many years, we have extended an olive branch to the Israeli side, seeking to reach a settlement and ensure that peace prevails - not only directly between Israel and Palestine, but also between Israel and its neighboring Arab nations - for the benefit of the entire region and the world." The PNA leader added that the Palestinian authorities "are interested in the security of the region, as well as the security of the Israelis," and that they strive to resolve existing conflicts "on the basis of United Nations Security Council resolutions and international law" - an outcome that would benefit the entire Middle East. Abbas emphasized that the Palestinian authorities support "peaceful, popular resistance, which serves as an expression of the Palestinian people's protest in instances where their rights are violated."

Regarding his upcoming engagements with the president of Cyprus, Abbas stated: "We will have an extensive opportunity to exchange views on the situation and on the suffering endured by the Palestinian people - whether in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, or East Jerusalem, which, under international resolutions, is the rightful capital of the Palestinian state."

Elections for the Israeli parliament (the Knesset) took place on October 27, with a turnout of 77.7% - the highest recorded since 1999. With approximately 91% of the votes counted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and its coalition allies have secured a combined total of 53 seats in the Knesset. The opposition bloc, led by Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party, is on track for 48 seats. The Arab party Ra'am and the Joint List together hold about 19 mandates. A minimum of 61 seats is required to secure a majority in the Knesset.