Israeli President May Broker Unprecedented Coalition Deal Post-Election

President Yitzhak Herzog may play a pivotal role in resolving Israel's post-election political deadlock, as preliminary results show neither bloc securing a parliamentary majority. The Maariv newspaper reports that Herzog's administration could become a central venue for compromise negotiations between opposing political camps. With Netanyahu's bloc projected to win 53 seats and the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot holding 48, and with Arab parties securing 19 seats, forming a government requires at least 61 Knesset members. This situation forces both sides to seek additional votes or cooperate with parties previously excluded.

President Herzog has urged party leaders to demonstrate responsibility and a willingness to compromise to avoid further elections. Following the official vote count next week, Herzog will consult with parliamentary factions to determine a candidate for government formation. One unconventional scenario being discussed is a broad unity government featuring a rotation of prime ministers, allowing competing political factions to share governance.

Herzog's potential involvement in such a solution was previously considered before the current elections, with sources close to the presidency suggesting he could exercise discretion within his legal powers to facilitate negotiations. However, the president cannot unilaterally determine coalition composition or impose agreements. Israel has seen similar presidential mediation attempts, including former President Reuven Rivlin's efforts in 2019 to form a unity government between Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, which ultimately failed. In 1984, President Chaim Herzog, the current president's father, facilitated a unity government with a prime ministerial rotation between Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Shamir.

The current political landscape is complicated by deep-seated disagreements. Forming a government without Netanyahu might require cooperation from parties led by Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan, potentially still falling short of a majority. This could necessitate support from ultra-Orthodox or Arab parties, contradicting campaign pledges. Some within the current coalition believe these divisions could benefit Netanyahu, potentially leading to a fragile government if his opponents succeed.

Further obstacles include legislation on ultra-Orthodox conscription, with some Haredi parties possibly preferring opposition until the issue is resolved. Differing stances among ultra-Orthodox factions, such as Shas and United Torah Judaism, further complicate majority building. The possibility of addressing Netanyahu's legal issues, including a potential plea deal, is also being discussed as part of a broader compromise, though no concrete deal has been confirmed. Herzog's office has not commented on these speculations, emphasizing the independent nature of any consideration of Netanyahu's legal matters. The President has not proposed a specific government model, focusing publicly on dialogue and preventing new elections.