President's Consultations Continue Amid Shifting Alliances for Government Formation
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
President Isaac Herzog is continuing consultations with political parties on forming a government, with Gadi Eisenkot potentially securing 67 recommendations if the Joint List backs him. United Torah Judaism is expected to abstain, weakening Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc. Both candidates face challenges in building a stable coalition due to internal party disagreements and potential reliance on Arab parties. The President will decide who gets the mandate based on recommendations and practical coalition-building prospects.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Gadi Eisenkot may receive recommendations from 67 Knesset members if the Joint List supports him.
- United Torah Judaism is expected to abstain from recommending a candidate, weakening Netanyahu's bloc.
- President Isaac Herzog is conducting consultations to determine who will be tasked with forming a government.
- Forming a coalition faces challenges, including disagreements over Arab party support and the conscription law.
- The candidate tasked with forming a government will have 28 days to secure a majority in the Knesset.
The second day of consultations at the President's Residence in Jerusalem is underway, with political parties meeting President Isaac Herzog to recommend a candidate for prime minister. Gadi Eisenkot is projected to receive recommendations from 67 Knesset members if the Joint List supports him, potentially giving him an advantage over Benjamin Netanyahu. However, the path to forming a government remains complex.
Key meetings on the second day include United Torah Judaism, Otzma Yehudit, the Democrats, Ra'am, Yamina, Yisrael Beiteinu, and the Likud party. Eisenkot's bloc, comprising Yamina, the Democrats, and Yisrael Beiteinu, already holds 48 seats. If Ra'am (8 seats) and the Joint List (11 seats) also recommend Eisenkot, his support could reach 67 members. Yamina and the Democrats have publicly stated their support for Eisenkot, while Yisrael Beiteinu's leader, Avigdor Lieberman, continues to oppose a government reliant on Arab parties.
United Torah Judaism is reportedly leaning towards abstaining from recommending any candidate, a move that would significantly weaken Netanyahu's bloc, which currently stands at 53 seats. Without United Torah Judaism's seven seats, Netanyahu's bloc would be reduced to 46 recommendations. The party has indicated that resolving the issue of yeshiva student conscription is a prerequisite for any future coalition negotiations, regardless of the candidate tasked with forming the government.
Despite a potential majority of recommendations, forming a coalition faces hurdles. Lieberman and Bennett have expressed reservations about relying on Arab parties. Furthermore, potential coalition partners for Eisenkot are divided over the conscription law and the status of yeshiva students. Netanyahu must also find ways to broaden his support beyond his current bloc.
President Herzog will ultimately decide whom to task with forming a government, considering not only the number of recommendations but also the practical possibility of assembling a coalition. The chosen candidate will have 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension. If unsuccessful, the mandate could be given to another Knesset member or lead to further attempts to form a government. The true test will be translating recommendations into political agreements and ultimately into a government that can win a vote of confidence in the Knesset.
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