Israeli President Isaac Herzog began formal consultations with political parties on Wednesday, November 4, to determine who will lead the next government following a general election with no clear winner. After receiving the certified results from the Central Elections Committee, Herzog met with party representatives to identify a candidate to form a governing coalition. The Oct. 27 vote left both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc and the centrist bloc of his rival, Gadi Eisenkot, short of the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.
The certification of the results followed public claims by Prime Minister Netanyahu and his allies that Arab-led parties had "stolen" the election. Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg stated Wednesday that an investigation found no evidence of irregularities that compromised the integrity of the vote. While the Shin Bet security service is investigating allegations of foreign funding, Sohlberg noted that even if substantiated, the scope of such influence would be too limited to fundamentally change the election outcome.
During the first day of consultations, three religious-nationalist factions recommended Netanyahu to form a government, while one faction recommended Eisenkot. Eight more parties, including two Arab-led alliances that won 19 seats, are scheduled to meet with Herzog on Thursday. Herzog cautioned political leaders that "not every commitment and promise can be fulfilled" if they intend to avoid another round of elections.
The deadlock affects millions of eligible Israeli voters who face the possibility of another national election if a coalition cannot be reached. For Arab citizens, who make up about 20% of the population, their representatives now hold 19 seats, potentially serving as "kingmakers" despite pledges from most Jewish parties not to work with them.
The political instability has led to a dispute over the role of the Shin Bet, Israel's internal security agency. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara rejected a request by Shin Bet chief David Zini to interrogate senior Arab lawmakers, stating there was no evidence of wrongdoing to justify the action. This decision was criticized by the Likud party, which accused the Attorney General of obstructing an investigation into foreign interference.
The designated candidate will have 28 days to form a coalition, with the possibility of a 14-day extension. If the first appointee fails to secure a majority support from 61 members of the Knesset, Herzog may task another member or the country will proceed to new elections. Herzog is expected to announce his choice for the mandate within several days after consultations conclude.