Parties Recommend Netanyahu as PM in Presidential Consultations

President Isaac Herzog's consultations for forming a government began Wednesday afternoon. The Shas and Religious Zionism parties recommended incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form the next government. Representatives from the Yisrael Beiteinu party recommended Gadi Eisenkot, and Ra'am party also announced it would recommend Eisenkot.

During the consultations, Yisrael Beiteinu MK Oded Forer stated, "Not one of our 337,000 voters thought we would sit with the Arab parties." The Shas delegation included MKs Michael Malchieli, Yinon Azulai, Yoav Ben Tzur, and Haim Biton, along with Dror Amos. The Religious Zionism delegation included Minister Orit Struk, Itamar Eitam, and Zvika Mor.

The Religious Zionism party issued a statement saying, "The election results mandate a broad national government headed by Netanyahu." They added, "It must be clear that the nationalistic Arab parties are not legitimate partners in determining Israel's future, as for them the establishment of the state is a disaster, the land is Arab, and the anthem is 'Bilady,' all regardless of the ongoing investigations, which we naturally demand be concluded fully and without barriers."

Minister Struk conveyed similar sentiments to the President. President Herzog responded by questioning how she distinguishes between racism and her statements, noting that Hadash, part of the Joint List, is a signatory to Israel's Declaration of Independence and that over two million Arab citizens are part of Israeli society. He also asked if her party could compromise, to which Struk replied that even being in the current government was a compromise.

Earlier on Wednesday, police and bomb disposal units were called to the President's Residence following a report of a suspicious item detected on a woman during a security screening. After the police completed their inspection, entry to the President's Residence resumed as normal.