The aftermath of Israel’s dramatic election features prominently in most dailies this morning. The Daily Mail, Financial Times and the Evening Standard all report that the outcome of the election is a blow to Israel’s current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and detail the surprising success of Yair Lapid’s centrist Yesh Atid party, which became the second largest party in the Knesset. The Independent provides an analysis of Netanyahu’s electoral mistakes, suggesting that he had misread the public mood. Meanwhile, the Telegraph and Guardian report that Netanyahu’s weakened position has forced him to court Lapid which will likely see his future government take a more centrist path. An article in the Times suggests that the new political configuration could see Israel’s ultra-Orthodox parties remain outside the coalition, having been an almost permanent fixture in government for the last two decades. The Telegraph, Guardian, Financial Times and Independent all profile Yair Lapid, commenting on his background as a media celebrity, his emphasis on internal economic and societal issues and the political heritage inherited from his father Tommy, also a journalist turned politician. Meanwhile, the Times online suggests that Yair Lapid could become Israel’s new foreign minister.

Commentary on Israel’s election includes Aluf Benn in the Guardian, who argues that although Lapid will be the new kingmaker in the Israeli coalition, his major challenge in government will be to influence a more moderate foreign policy rather than accept pledges of social and constitutional reform. Meanwhile, Matt Hill in the Telegraph writes that the election results illustrate how the Israeli people still want a two-state solution and that even votes for those opposed to such a deal are rooted in fear rather than opposition to territorial concession. There are also editorials this morning focusing on Israel’s elections in the Telegraph, Financial Times, Guardian and Independent i, which largely reflect on the difficulties that Netanyahu may face in forming and maintaining a coalition.

Elsewhere in the region, the online editions of the Telegraph and Independent report on yesterday’s parliamentary election in Jordan which was boycotted by the country’s Muslim Brotherhood faction. Results of the vote are expected today.

The Israeli media focuses on the coalition manoeuvring which is already taking place. As highlighted on the front pages of Haaretz and Israel Hayom, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid last night ruled out the possibility of forming an alternative to a Netanyahu-led government, paving the way to becoming the major coalition partner under Netanyahu’s leadership. Maariv headlines with suggestions that Netanyahu will look to form a government including both Yesh Atid and the ultra-Orthodox Shas party at its core. Such a move could prove difficult to implement with Yesh Atid’s number one priority an increase in the ultra-Orthodox military draft, which is stringently opposed by Shas. Writing in Yediot Ahronot, Nahum Barnea says that Lapid has a “once in a generation opportunity” to make demands as he enters government and says that in doing so Lapid is “obliged by the size of his faction” to address the issues of the peace process and settlements. Writing in the same publication, Sima Kadmon says that Lapid never expected to be even a minister and is cautious regarding his sudden rise to prominence, which means that Netanyahu may find it difficult to tempt him with various coalition conditions. Yediot Ahronot also includes a report on the record number of women who have been voted into the next Knesset.

In other news, Haaretz reports that a Palestinian woman was killed by IDF fire near Hebron in the West Bank. The Israeli army said that soldiers had come under petrol bomb attack before opening fire. Meanwhile, Israel Radio News reports that Israel’s President Shimon Peres will travel to the World Economic Forum in Davos today, returning on Sunday.