President Begins Consultations on Mandate to Form Government
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has begun consultations with political parties to assign the mandate for forming a new government. Gadi Eisenkot is projected to receive more recommendations than Benjamin Netanyahu, but coalition building remains uncertain. Key factions like Yahadut HaTorah and Arab parties have yet to finalize their endorsements, impacting the potential for a stable government. If no government is formed within the allotted time, new elections will be called.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- President Herzog began consultations to assign the mandate for forming Israel's next government.
- Gadi Eisenkot is expected to receive more recommendations than Benjamin Netanyahu.
- The decisions of Yahadut HaTorah and Arab parties are crucial for coalition building.
- Avigdor Lieberman has set conditions for supporting a government led by Eisenkot.
- Forming a stable coalition presents significant challenges for any candidate.
- Failure to form a government could lead to new elections.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has commenced consultations with political parties to determine who will receive the mandate to form a new government. The process began with smaller factions and will proceed to larger ones, a departure from the usual order. This approach allows the President to first gauge the positions of smaller parties, including Yahadut HaTorah, which is reportedly considering not endorsing any candidate. The President will also explore the conditions set by Avigdor Lieberman for a government led by Gadi Eisenkot and the willingness of Arab parties to support him, before meeting with Eisenkot and Netanyahu.
Initial assessments suggest Gadi Eisenkot is likely to receive the most recommendations, with reports indicating support from Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman. Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to gain recommendations from right-wing parties, excluding Yahadut HaTorah. Political calculations estimate the "change bloc" has 48 mandates, Arab parties 19, and Netanyahu's bloc 53. If Yahadut HaTorah (7 mandates) abstains, Netanyahu might have 46 recommendations, while Eisenkot could reach 67 if supported by Israel Beiteinu and the Arab parties.
Despite the number of recommendations, the law does not obligate the President to choose the candidate with the most endorsements. The ability to form a stable coalition is a key consideration. The decision of Yahadut HaTorah, awaiting rabbinical guidance on issues like yeshiva student status, could be pivotal. Avigdor Lieberman has ruled out a minority government reliant on Arab parties or one with Netanyahu, but has left the door open for negotiations with Haredi parties regarding conscription.
The Arab parties, Ra'am and the Joint List, are coordinating their positions. Even if they recommend Eisenkot, their support for swearing in a minority government remains uncertain and conditional. Eisenkot, if tasked with forming a government, will need to secure a Knesset majority for legislation and budget approvals, which may require agreements with parties outside the coalition.
The process of forming a government is complex and could be paralleled by a battle for the Knesset speakership. If Eisenkot receives the mandate, he will have 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension. Failure to do so could lead to the President tasking another Knesset member or, ultimately, the Knesset dissolving and triggering new elections.
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