Israeli president to launch coalition talks after election

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 1 Nov, 00:20 · Archive

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will begin consultations on forming a new government after Tuesday's election left no bloc with a majority.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is launching consultations to form a new government following Tuesday's parliamentary election. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party won the most seats with 27 of 120, while opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot's centrist Yashar party came second with 21 seats. Neither bloc secured the 61 seats needed for a majority.

The president will select the candidate he believes has the best chance of securing a parliamentary majority. That candidate then has 28 days to form a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension. If this fails, the president transfers the mandate to another member of parliament for 28 days. If that also fails, at least 61 lawmakers can propose a candidate with 14 days to form a government. Herzog has said he wants to avoid new elections, which would be required if all three stages fail to produce a majority.

Thousands demonstrated in Tel Aviv on Saturday calling for Arab parties' participation in the government. The Joint List alliance and the conservative Islamic Raam party together won 19 seats, nearly doubling their result from the 2022 election. Opposition candidate Eisenkot tied possible participation in government to four conditions.

How it is being reported

• Israeli president to launch coalition talksThousands have demonstrated in Tel Aviv, calling for the participation of Arab parties in Israel's next government as the election result hangs in the balance.Perth Now · 31 Oct, 23:42
• Israeli president to launch coalition talksThousands have demonstrated in Tel Aviv, calling for the participation of Arab parties in Israel's next government as the election result hangs in the balance.The West Australian · 31 Oct, 23:42

In this story: Isaac Herzog · Benjamin Netanyahu · Gadi Eisenkot · Likud · Yashar · Joint List · Raam · Israel

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log