Israel Election Results: President Herzog Accepts Vote and Begins Talks

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has officially accepted the certified results of the recent parliamentary elections and initiated formal consultations with party leaders regarding the formation of the next government. The move follows a closely contested vote in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies failed to secure a parliamentary majority, while Arab-led parties achieved historic gains across the 120-member legislature. Herzog urged political figures to face reality and compromise to prevent another election early next year.

During the October 27 ballot, neither Netanyahu's coalition nor the bloc led by opposition figure Gadi Eisenkot reached the 61 seats required to govern, securing 53 and 48 seats respectively. The outcome leaves potential pathways open for alliances, including a possible coalition involving Eisenkot and the Arab-led factions Ra'am and the Joint List, which collectively captured a record 19 seats. Netanyahu and his supporters have repeatedly made claims of fraud, alleging that Arab-led parties stole the election, but the national elections commission reported finding no evidence of irregularities affecting the outcome.

Herzog began discussions with faction leaders on Wednesday evening. Several religious-nationalist parties recommended Netanyahu, while others backed Eisenkot, and some ultra-Orthodox factions withheld endorsement due to unresolved military service exemptions. Additional meetings involving eight more parties, including the Arab-led blocs, are scheduled to conclude soon. Eisenkot's backing increased after Ra'am announced its support, bringing his expected backing closer to a majority depending on the Joint List's final position.

President Herzog has accepted the official election results and begun talks to form a government.

Following the consultations, Herzog will designate the candidate he determines is best positioned to assemble a governing coalition. The chosen nominee will then have 28 days to form a government, with an optional 14-day extension permitted under law. Herzog condemned racist expressions during the campaign and emphasized respect for the Palestinian minority, warning against baseless smears while supporting investigations into any genuine irregularities.

Why it matters

This development directly challenges Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to discredit the election outcome after he and his allies lost their majority in parliament. By formally moving forward with the transition process, President Herzog creates a viable path for alternative coalitions, potentially ending Netanyahu's tenure or forcing a compromise to avoid a fresh round of voting early next year.