Israeli President to Begin Coalition Talks with Smaller Parties First

President Isaac Herzog will receive the official results of the 26th Knesset elections on Wednesday at 12:00 PM from the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg. Following the handover, both will make statements to the press. The President will then commence coalition consultations at 5:00 PM with all elected factions. In an unusual move, Herzog has decided to begin these consultations with the smaller parties, in ascending order of their mandate count, before meeting with the larger factions. This approach aims to allow for a broad examination of all available options before forming a government. The first party to meet the President will be the Religious Zionism party at 5:00 PM, followed by Shas at 6:15 PM, Yisrael Beiteinu at 7:30 PM, and the Arab parties at 8:45 PM. The President seeks to hear the positions of all factions and explore potential avenues for consensus and government formation. The consultations are taking place against a backdrop of political deadlock, with Netanyahu's bloc securing 53 mandates and the change bloc 48. Arab parties, Ra'am with 8 mandates and the Joint List with 11, have become decisive factors. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated his hand is extended for a broad national government, emphasizing the public's desire against a government dependent on Ra'am and the Joint List. Conversely, Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu and his representatives of attempting to undermine election results because they lost. The President has not ruled out further rounds of consultations if necessary. As is customary, after hearing recommendations from all factions and concluding consultations, the President will task a Knesset member with forming a government.