Herzog consults parties as Israel’s election leaves blocs short of a majority

President Isaac Herzog has begun consulting political parties on whom to ask to form Israel’s next government, after an election left no bloc with a parliamentary majority. He urged party leaders to compromise to avoid another election, while warning against attempts to undermine the result or smear Arab Israelis.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud-led bloc won 53 of the Knesset’s 120 seats, while rival Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc won 48. Two Arab-led alliances secured 19 seats, potentially making them kingmakers, though most Jewish parties had ruled out working with them. The Shin Bet is investigating alleged foreign interference, but election officials say there is no evidence of irregularities that would change the result; the person Herzog selects will have 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to form a government.