RAMALLAH, January 23, 2013 (WAFA) – A senior Palestinian official Wednesday said there was skepticism that any new Israeli government can change facts on the ground created by former governments that were the reason for ending the peace process.

Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee, said at a news conference in Ramallah that Palestinians did not jump with joy when results of the Israeli elections held on Tuesday showed a boost for centrist parties.

She admitted, however, that the election results, which split the vote in half between the right-wing parties and the centrists, came as a surprise to everyone.

“It was a surprise to everyone that the center and center left have revitalized themselves,” she said.

However, she added, “when it comes to Palestinians, no one is jumping with joy.”

Ashrawi said that it remains unclear what form the new government is going to take, but she said the Palestinians do not expect any major change regardless of what kind of government is formed.

“We do not think that peace is on the horizon,” she said. “I do not expect miraculous transformation in Israeli policy.”

The PLO official said the Palestinians should be prepared for all options regardless who forms the next government.

She said that the Palestinians should continue to focus on non-violent popular resistance and reunite their ranks to face an uncertain future.

Ashrawi expected that pressure will mount on the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table with Israel, but she insisted that unless Israel stops settlement construction and agrees to withdraw from all the territories it occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem, negotiations will not resume.

“We negotiate the moment the Israeli government shows signs that it wants peace,” she said. “We cannot go back to business as usual.”

M.S.