DHAKA: The Palestinians slammed Israelis on Wednesday for voting for prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rightwing Likud party, saying they had chosen ‘occupation and settlement building’ over peace talks.

‘Israel chose the path of racism, occupation and settlement building, and did not choose the path of negotiations and partnership between us," senior Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) official Yasser Abed Rabbo told the media, reports The Straits Times.

In a snap election to Israel’s 120-seat parliament on Tuesday, the Likud beat centre-left rivals the Zionist Union by 30 seats to 24.

‘We are facing an Israeli society that is sick with racism, and a policy of occupation and settlement building... and ahead of us is a long and difficult road of struggle against Israel,’ Abed Rabbo said.

BDST: 1626 HRS, MAR 18, 2015