06.11.2026 04:00
Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced that after holding consultations with parties, he will assign the task of forming the government to a leader on Sunday. In the talks, 67 lawmakers requested that the task be given to opposition Yashar Party leader Gadi Eisenkot, while the number of those supporting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remained at 46. Herzog said the picture has not yet become completely clear due to mutual veto statements.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he would announce on Sunday the name of the person to whom he will give the mandate to form the government.
In a statement after concluding his meetings with all parties represented in the Knesset, President Herzog said, "The results of the consultations appear clear."
67 MKS BACKED EISENKOT, 46 MKS BACKED NETANYAHU
Herzog announced that after the consultation meetings, the number of lawmakers who wanted the mandate to form the government to be given to opposition bloc Yashar Party leader Eisenkot was 67, while the number of lawmakers supporting Likud Party leader Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remained at 46.
President Herzog said, "The authority the laws give me is to determine who has the ability to form the government. Given the mutual veto statements between the blocs and within the blocs themselves, this situation has not yet become entirely clear."
Herzog, stating that he would meet one-on-one with some party leaders to clarify the situation directly and quickly, said he planned to give the mandate to form the government to a leader this Sunday.
Herzog said, "In these meetings, I will do everything in my power to encourage the parties to communicate with one another and to form a stable and good government for the people of Israel."
COALITION UNCERTAINTY EMERGED FROM THE BALLOT BOX
According to the uncertified results of the elections held in Israel on October 27, coalition uncertainty emerged from the ballot box.
The ruling bloc led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won 53 seats and the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot won 48 seats, but neither group reached the 61 lawmakers needed to form a government in the 120-seat Knesset.
The two lists representing Palestinian citizens of Israel, meanwhile, achieved a historic success by reaching 19 seats and positioned themselves in a key position in the Knesset arithmetic.