(Israel Government Press Office)

All five papers discuss various issues regarding the provisional results of Tuesday's elections for the 19th Knesset:

Yediot Aharonot says: "Now, for the third time, Netanyahu can choose the good. He can bring in Lapid and Bennett as a base, and other parties that agree to choose the good. What is the good? The good is our ailing system, which encourages sectorial blackmail and the inability to govern, being replaced with a normal system. The good is that everyone serves and protects the homeland without whole populations – thousands and thousands of young men – evading, while their brothers carry the burden. The good is the state budget being allocated fairly and efficiently in a way that encourages creativity and productivity, not idleness."

Ma'ariv suggests that "This week, Benjamin Netanyahu and Shaul Mofaz paid the price for wrecking the unity government between them over their inability, last summer, to reach agreement on the issue of drafting the ultra-orthodox," and adds: "Netanyahu wanted too much to keep his 'natural' ultra-orthodox partners and Mofaz wanted to depict Netanyahu as someone who capitulated to the ultra-orthodox ahead of the apparent elections. The result was that the issue was handed over to elections, to the enjoyment of Yair Lapid, who laughed all the way to the ballot box." The author asserts: "Luckily for Netanyahu, Lapid has shown himself to be a partner who is more amenable to compromise than his [late] father," and urges the ultra-orthodox, especially Shas, to come towards the younger Lapid.

Yisrael Hayom discusses the role new media played in the election campaign. The author says that "[Yesh Atid leader Yair] Lapid used Facebook as a platform for free dialogue even though he did not always answer the tougher questions," and adds: "Lapid, like other leaders in the world, understood that there is power in the network and directed his race accordingly." The paper believes that Lapid "knew how to bring out his star quality from the old media through to Facebook," and suggests that "The alternative of Yesh Atid began with Yair Lapid's Facebook wall."

The Jerusalem Post reviews the recent election results and predicts a “Rough ride ahead.”  The editor asserts: “all potential partners need to lower expectations and demand less in portfolios, prestige and policies,” but adds: “Given proven past political proclivities, however, that is likely too optimistic. Regrettably, we are in for a rough-and-tumble ride till a new government is formed.”

Haaretz notes that “Yesh Atid will be the second-largest party in the 19th Knesset, and its leader, Yair Lapid, will play a key role in forming the new government,” and states: “In the absence of Likud moderates in the next government, following their marginalization on the party’s election slate, Lapid will be the representative of liberal Israel. As he himself said, heavy responsibility rests upon his shoulders. He must not squander it in exchange for senior cabinet posts or empty promises.”

[Gilad Sharon Yair Sheleg and Matti Shmuelov wrote today’s articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma'ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]