Israeli President Begins Consultations to Tap Next Prime Minister

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Israeli President Isaac Herzog began consultations Wednesday to select a candidate for prime minister after the recent legislative elections yielded no clear majority. Parties are recommending candidates, with Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu and Yashar! leader Gadi Eisenkot emerging as potential contenders. The president will ultimately decide who has the best chance to form a coalition government.

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President Isaac Herzog started consultations to choose Israel's next prime minister.
No political bloc achieved a clear majority in the October 27 elections.
Four parties support Benjamin Netanyahu, while others back Gadi Eisenkot.
The stance of United Torah Judaism and Arab parties could be decisive.
President Herzog will appoint the lawmaker most likely to form a coalition.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog commenced consultations on Wednesday evening at his Jerusalem residence with parties elected to the new Knesset to determine which lawmaker will be tasked with forming the next government. These meetings, broadcast live, occur amidst political uncertainty, as no bloc secured a clear parliamentary majority following the October 27 legislative elections. The consultations began with the Religious Zionism party, followed by Shas, Yisrael Beiteinu, and Zehut, which ran on a joint list with Religious Zionism. Discussions will continue Thursday with other parties, from smaller factions to Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud, which will conclude the series. Each delegation is expected to recommend a candidate for prime minister.

Currently, four parties, Likud, Shas, Religious Zionism, and Otzma Yehudit, have declared their intention to support Netanyahu. Meanwhile, Yashar!, Democrats, Be'ahad, and Yisrael Beiteinu have indicated they would recommend Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of Yashar!. The position of United Torah Judaism remains uncertain, with reports suggesting Likud is pressuring its traditional ally to back Netanyahu.

The Arab parties, the Joint List and Ra'am, have not yet announced their choice. Their potential support for Eisenkot could be decisive in enabling him to gather more recommendations than Netanyahu. However, if United Torah Judaism refuses to support Netanyahu, the Arab parties' recommendations might become irrelevant, potentially allowing them to abstain.

Ultimately, the decision rests with President Herzog, who is not obligated to assign the government formation task to the head of the leading party or even the one with the most recommendations. Israeli law requires the president to appoint the lawmaker he believes is most likely to successfully form a majority coalition in the Knesset.