Israel's president to begin consultations with parties after election deadlock

What the report says

Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, is set to begin consultations with party leaders after last week’s election failed to produce a clear winner, the BBC reports. Herzog received the official results on Wednesday and said the next steps are aimed at avoiding another round of voting and helping produce a stable coalition government.

According to the BBC, neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc nor the rival camp linked to Gadi Eisenkot won a majority in the 120-seat parliament. Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud and its allies secured 53 seats, while Eisenkot’s bloc and other opposition parties won 48. Two Arab-led alliances took 19 seats, making them possible kingmakers, although most Jewish parties had ruled out partnering with them before the election.

Herzog warned that parties may need to compromise, saying not all campaign pledges can be kept if a government is to be formed. He also cautioned against attacks on Arab Israelis, after tensions rose over unverified claims from Netanyahu allies about foreign interference and supposed irregularities.

The BBC said election officials found no evidence that would justify delaying certification of the result, while Israel’s Shin Bet security service is still investigating foreign-interference allegations. Under Israel’s system, the president has the discretion to ask one Knesset member to try to form a coalition, with 28 days to do so and a possible 14-day extension.