Following the Israeli parliamentary elections held on October 27, the nation faces a period of political uncertainty as no single coalition has secured the 61 seats required to form a government in the 120-seat Knesset. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition secured 53 seats, while the opposition alliance led by Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett obtained 48 seats. The remaining 19 seats were won by Arab parties. Despite the current seat distribution, reports suggest that Gadi Eisenkot has garnered support from 67 members, fueling speculation regarding a potential change in government.
President Isaac Herzog announced that he will issue a formal invitation to form a government this coming Sunday, following a series of consultations with political party leaders. Addressing the complexity of the current political landscape, President Herzog stated, "Everyone knows what happened in the consultations. However, the authority to decide who has the ability to form a government rests with me by law. Given the preferences and animosities existing between political alliances, this matter is not entirely clear. I will determine this by directly contacting and negotiating with certain party leaders."
Under Israeli law, the President typically invites the leader of the party with the most seats to attempt to form a government, though he retains the discretion to invite the leader of a second-place party if deemed necessary. Once invited, the designated leader is granted 28 days to secure a majority, with a potential 14-day extension if required.
If the initial candidate fails to prove a majority, the President may offer the opportunity to another party leader. Should that effort also prove unsuccessful, a candidate supported by a consensus of 61 members of parliament may be granted a mandate. If all attempts to form a stable government fail, the Knesset will be dissolved, and the country will be forced to hold fresh elections.
