Israeli President Herzog begins coalition talks after election leaves no majority
Netanyahu’s bloc holds 53 seats and Eisenkot’s 48. Arab-led parties won a record 19 seats. Herzog urges compromise to avoid a new vote.
Jerusalem2 min read
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Israeli President Isaac Herzog accepted the certified results of last week’s parliamentary election on Wednesday and began consultations with party leaders on who should receive the first chance to form a government.
Neither bloc secured a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud and its allies won 53 seats. The centrist bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party and other opposition groups won 48. Two Arab-led lists, Ra’am and the Joint List, together secured a record 19 seats after higher turnout among Arab voters. Herzog told party representatives that not every campaign promise can be fulfilled if they want to avoid another election.
Likud remains the largest single party with 27 seats. Yashar has 21. The Central Elections Committee certified the results after reviewing polling stations. Netanyahu’s camp had claimed irregularities involving Arab parties, but officials found no evidence that would delay certification. Herzog received the official tally from committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg in Jerusalem.
Consultations began Wednesday evening. Religious Zionism, Shas and other parties aligned with Netanyahu recommended the prime minister. Yisrael Beytenu backed Eisenkot. Ra’am indicated it would recommend Eisenkot. The remaining parties, including Likud and Yashar, meet Herzog on Thursday. The president has broad discretion in choosing whom to task. The selected lawmaker will have 28 days to form a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension.
Arab parties have rarely participated in governing coalitions. Most Jewish parties pledged before the vote not to rely on them. Eisenkot’s path to 61 seats would require support from at least some of the 19 Arab seats. Netanyahu has described any such arrangement as unacceptable. Herzog has not ruled out further rounds of talks. He emphasised the need for a peaceful transfer of power and urged leaders to show flexibility.
The election was Israel’s first since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks. Turnout reached 77.9 percent. Netanyahu remains caretaker until a new government is sworn in. Failure by either side to assemble a majority would trigger another election. The consultations continue through the week.
