Following official certification of election results, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog initiated consultations with political party representatives regarding the formation of a new coalition government. The election held on 27 October resulted in a fragmented parliament with no faction securing a majority among the 120 seats in the Knesset.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc, comprising Likud alongside far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies, secured 53 seats. Opposition centrist leader Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc and associated Jewish parties obtained 48 seats combined. Two Arab-led alliances achieved an unprecedented combined total of 19 seats, driven by increased voter participation among Arab Israeli communities. However, virtually all Jewish parties had committed before the election to exclude Arab-led groups from coalition negotiations, potentially complicating government formation efforts.
Herzog conveyed to party leaders that some campaign commitments may require modification to prevent another election. As president, Herzog holds discretion to designate which Knesset member will attempt coalition formation, with 28 days allocated for the task and a possible 14-day extension. The designated individual need not be the leader of the largest party.
Electoral officials reported no evidence of irregularities despite allegations from Netanyahu’s camp. Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg emphasized that peaceful power transfer represents a democratic foundation. The Shin Bet security service is investigating allegations of foreign interference, with indications of substantial funding flowing into Israel from foreign entities. Qatar has denied reports it provided funds to increase Arab voter turnout. Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara rejected demands to interrogate Arab politicians absent evidence of wrongdoing, prompting accusations of obstruction from Netanyahu allies and counter-accusations of election manipulation from opposition figures.
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