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Herzog to hear Netanyahu and Eisenkot before naming government formateur
Developing story first seen 3 hours ago
New coverage says President Isaac Herzog is due to hear from Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot before deciding which should first try to form Israel’s next government. Neither bloc won a majority in last month’s election, so Herzog must judge who has the best chance of building a stable coalition; failure could lead to another election.
Netanyahu’s coalition fell from 68 seats to 53 in the 120-seat Knesset, while Eisenkot’s Change bloc won 48 and Palestinian parties hold 19. Arab Israeli turnout rose to about 80%, while Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza could not vote. Ra’am says it would join an Eisenkot-led government, while the Joint List has suggested it may support an opposition from outside.
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In short
- Herzog is hearing from Netanyahu and Eisenkot before choosing a formateur.
- Neither bloc has a Knesset majority.
- Palestinian parties could influence whether a coalition is formed.
How this story developed
- 57 minutes ago Later reporting said turnout among Arab Israelis had more than doubled to about 80%, while Ra’am said it would join an Eisenkot-led government and the Joint List signalled possible support for an opposition from outside.
- 1 hour ago New coverage said Herzog was due to hear from both leaders before deciding who had the strongest chance of building a stable coalition; it also clarified that Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza could not vote.
- 3 hours ago President Isaac Herzog met Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot to consider who should first try to form a government, after an election left both blocs short of a Knesset majority and raised the possibility of another vote.
Where outlets differ
Left-leaning outlets 1
Only here: herzog, hear, naming, formateur
Right-leaning outlets 1
- Israel’s Arab parties choose between ‘bad and even worse’ as they back Gadi Eisenkot over Netanyahu to form governmentWashington Examiner
Only here: israel, arab, parties, choose, even
Every side used: netanyahu, eisenkot, government
Headline columns compared word for word; nothing in them is AI-written.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Herzog should appoint the leader most likely to assemble a stable majority, giving the elected parties a chance to govern and avoiding the cost and uncertainty of another election. Hearing both candidates and considering whether Palestinian parties would support or join a coalition could help identify a viable government, while respecting voters who turned out in large numbers.
The case against
A formateur choice that depends on Palestinian parties’ support could give parties that did not win a clear governing mandate disproportionate influence over policy. Given the blocs’ failure to secure a majority, Herzog could instead judge that another election would provide a clearer mandate, even if it prolongs political uncertainty.
Explained simply
Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has 120 seats, and a government needs support from a majority of its members to govern. When no bloc wins enough seats on its own, parties negotiate to form a coalition, agreeing to support a government led by one of their leaders.
The president formally asks a politician to try to form a government, taking into account who appears most likely to secure enough support. Benjamin Netanyahu is a long-serving former prime minister; Gadi Eisenkot is a former military chief and a leader of the Change bloc. Arab Israeli parties also hold seats and may affect whether either politician can assemble a coalition.
Coverage · 2 sources
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Elections Government Middle East Politics World
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Herzog to meet Israeli election rivals as decision nears on path to power”.