Herzog Opens Mandate Talks After Netanyahu Bloc Holds 53 Seats
Eisenkot has 67 potential backers, but Netanyahu leads in seat count as Arab parties shatter records.
By Grace Almasi ·
President Isaac Herzog began formal negotiations on Wednesday to determine who will form Israel's next government. Justice Noam Sohlberg, the chairman of the Central Elections Committee, delivered the official results to the president earlier that morning. The committee confirmed the counts after finding no evidence that the integrity of the vote was compromised. By law, Herzog must consult with Knesset factions before assigning the mandate to a specific candidate.
The election results show a tight split. Netanyahu's bloc holds 53 seats, while the opposition bloc secured 48. Arab parties, specifically Ra'am and the Joint List, won a record 19 seats combined. These numbers create a complex mathematical puzzle for the president. Herzog is expected to grant the mandate to the candidate who can demonstrate the backing of the largest number of party representatives.
Herzog is inviting faction representatives in ascending order of their seat counts. The first meetings on Wednesday will involve the Religious Zionism Party-Zehut, Shas, and Yisrael Beytenu. Consultations will continue through Thursday evening. The order of meetings is procedural, but the recommendations each leader provides will determine the final tally of support for either candidate.
Key leaders have already declared their preferences. Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionist Party and Arye Deri of Shas both stated on Tuesday that they recommend Netanyahu. These parties have served as partners in the current coalition. In contrast, Avigdor Liberman of Yisrael Beytenu announced he will recommend Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar party. Naftali Bennett of B'Yachad and Yair Golan of the Democrats also back Eisenkot.
The opposition bloc is aiming to avoid a repeat election by forming a stable coalition. If the Arab parties support Eisenkot, he would command 67 representatives in total. That number exceeds the 53 seats held by Netanyahu's bloc. However, Herzog will rely on the specific recommendations made during his consultations to make the final decision.
Several outcomes remain possible if negotiations stall. A unity government between Netanyahu and members of Eisenkot's bloc is one option. Another possibility is a minority government. Herzog urged political leaders on Sunday to accept the results and show flexibility. He warned that political entrenchment could force the country to hold another election if a stable government cannot be formed.
