Herzog to meet Israeli election rivals as decision nears on path to power
Summary
Israeli President Isaac Herzog was due to meet Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot as he prepares to choose which one should first try to form a government. Neither bloc won a majority in last month’s election, and Arab-led parties could influence whether Eisenkot can build a coalition.Key Facts
- Netanyahu’s coalition won 53 of the 120 Knesset seats, down from 68.
- The Change bloc led by Eisenkot won 48 seats.
- The Joint List won 11 seats, while the Islamist Ra’am party won eight.
- Turnout among Arab Israelis rose to about 80%, more than twice the previous level.
- Eisenkot said potential Arab-party partners must recognize Israel as a Jewish state, accept compulsory national service, and denounce Hamas as a terrorist organization.
- The Joint List said it could support an opposition government from outside, while Ra’am said it would join an Eisenkot-led government.
- Netanyahu remains prime minister in a caretaker government until a new coalition forms or another election is held.
- Israel’s Central Election Committee said the election’s integrity had not been compromised.
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