RAMALLAH, April 10 (Xinhua) -- A senior Palestinian official stated on Wednesday that the results of the Israeli parliamentary elections showed that Israel would not end its occupation.
Saeb Erekat, secretary general of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee, said in a press statement that "the Israeli voters voted to maintain the current situation."
"They voted not to end the Israeli occupation," Erekat said, adding "the Israeli voters voted in favor of the apartheid. From the preliminary poll, there are only 18 out of the 120 parliament members who support the two-state solution."
The Palestinians want an end of the Israeli military occupation of the Palestinian territories which started in June 1967 and to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Meanwhile, Hanan Ashrawi, member of the PLO executive committee, said that the results of the Israeli parliamentary elections, had hindered the possibilities of making peace in the region.
"The results of the elections clearly showed a rejection to the establishment of a Palestinian state and a commitment to intensifying settlements and stealing the Palestinians land," Ashrawi said in an emailed press statement.
The nearly-completed Israeli elections results on Wednesday showed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc secured a majority in the parliament.
