Herzog begins government talks after Israel’s inconclusive election

After an official results ceremony in Jerusalem, Israeli President Isaac Herzog formally received the certified outcome of the inconclusive parliamentary vote and opened talks on forming a government on November 4. The process leaves him to decide which member of parliament should receive the first opportunity to assemble a government.¹⁴²

Choosing a route to government

Herzog has sought to stay out of political disputes and ease divisions during his presidency, according to The New York Times and The Straits Times. Now, the election outcome has brought his mediation role into the government-formation process. The Straits Times reported on November 5 that he was expected to pursue a broad coalition rather than another vote.²³⁴

The BBC said Likud, together with Jewish parties from the extreme right and the ultra-Orthodox community, won 53 of the Knesset’s 120 seats. A bloc comprising Eisenkot’s Yashar and three additional Jewish opposition parties won a combined 48 seats. The United Arab List and Joint List accounted for the remaining 19 seats, giving the Arab-led alliances potential influence over the outcome.¹

That parliamentary arithmetic does not settle who can form a government. The BBC reported that all but one Jewish party had promised not to cooperate with the Arab-led alliances. The president can ask a Knesset member other than the leader of the largest party to attempt to form a government, the broadcaster said.¹

Herzog said the chosen member would have 28 days, with a possible additional 14 days, according to the BBC. He also told factions that preventing another election and establishing a stable government would require recognising that some earlier promises could not be honoured.¹

Results certified amid interference allegations

The Associated Press reported that the Central Elections Committee identified neither fraud nor other problems that affected the result. At the presentation of the results, committee chairman Noam Sohlberg warned against attempts to undermine their legitimacy, according to the BBC.⁴¹

Separately, Sohlberg said intelligence from Shin Bet appeared to indicate that substantial funding had entered Israel from foreign countries, including some hostile states. He said more investigation was necessary to establish the extent of the alleged activity. According to the BBC, Israeli news outlets reported that a complaint filed with the committee accused Qatar of financing efforts to encourage more Arab voters to cast ballots; the Qatari government rejected the allegation.¹

According to the BBC, Itamar Ben-Gvir demanded the arrest and interrogation of Arab-party leaders. Attorney-general Gali Baharav-Miara rejected Shin Bet chief David Zini’s reported request to interrogate four Arab politicians because no evidence of wrongdoing had been presented. Likud accused her of obstructing an investigation into alleged foreign electoral manipulation.¹

Herzog said Arab Israelis “must not be smeared” and condemned racist statements directed at communities in Israel, the BBC reported. His appeal accompanied the consultations over forming a government after the certified result left no conclusive governing outcome.¹²⁴