Isaac Herzog

Israeli President Isaac Herzog began consultations on Wednesday on who will be tasked with forming a new government after the 27 Oct parliamentary election. Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc, with 53 seats, nor Gadi Eisenkot's bloc, with 48, reached the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Arab-minority parties won 19 seats and are seen as potential kingmakers. Herzog meets the smaller parties first, with talks running until Thursday evening, and the chosen candidate will then have 28 days to form a government.

President Isaac Herzog will hold talks with party leaders on 5 and 6 November to determine who can form the next government after the 27 October election left both blocs short of the 61‑seat majority. Netanyahu’s right‑wing bloc secured 53 seats, including 27 for Likud, while Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc holds 48 seats. Arab parties combined for a record 19 seats. No bloc can claim the mandate, prompting the president’s invitation for compromise.

The 27 Oct election results will be certified and delivered to President Isaac Herzog on 4 Nov, confirming that Netanyahu's bloc secured 53 seats while the Change bloc won 48 and Arab parties captured a record 19 seats, leaving no side with the 61 seats needed to form a government. Voter turnout reached 77.7%, the highest since 1999. Herzog can assign a 28‑day coalition mandate, extendable by 14 days, and is expected to consult party leaders before deciding whom to task with building a coalition.