Palestinians plan new peace outreach in Israel

RAMALLAH, West Bank — An activist says the Palestinians plan to reassure Israel’s public that they are partners for peace, after a strong showing of Israeli moderates in parliament elections ended the domination of hawkish parties.

The activist said Wednesday that a letter with such a message will be sent to Israeli legislators and the media in coming days. He spoke on condition of anonymity because Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has not yet approved the text.

Palestinian officials say they are pleasantly surprised by the surge of centrist parties but doubt this will fundamentally alter Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-line policies.

Netanyahu is likely to retain his job, though it’s not a certainty because of the draw between Israel’s hawkish and center-left camps. He’ll have to bring moderate parties into his new coalition.